Tesla has lost its top safety ranking from Consumer Reports, which stated the automaker failed to set up an emergency braking function that it guaranteed to owners as standard equipment.
The magazine, which provides a yearly rating of vehicles sold in the United States, stated the Tesla Model S was losing its lead ranking in the ultra-luxury vehicle category, falling to third spot behind the Lexus LS and BMW 7 Series.
Tesla stated it had started enabling the automatic emergency braking function on Tuesday through a software update.
The California automaker recently recalled 53,000 Model S and Model X cars to repair an unassociated parking brake concern.
Consumer Reports stated both Tesla models formerly included standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), a function that helps in reducing of accidents. It stated Tesla had mentioned a software issue for delays of as much as six months in allowing the feature on more recent automobiles developed since late October.
Numerous automobile companies have agreed to phase in basic automatic emergency braking on most vehicles during the next 4 years, including such mainstream designs like the Toyota Corolla.
Consumer Reports noted it would re-evaluate the Tesla ratings “once Tesla deploys AEB to all owners and begins selling all new automobiles with the function activated.”
Consumer Reports stated Tesla, in an emailed statement to the publication, stated the company expected to consist AEB in a software update slated to be pressed to owners this week. The magazine stated the software upgrade, which is provided wirelessly to Tesla vehicles similar to updates on a smartphone, might take up to two weeks to work in all vehicles.
