The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has halted the rating process for the new version of the Tesla Model 3, which was officially made available in the United States on Jan. 10. Unlike its predecessor version, which was granted a five-star rating, ANCAP has declined to issue a rating for the newly face-lifted edition based on information provided by Tesla.
ANCAP is the primary agency in Australia that conducts crash testing of automobiles sold in the country and assessments of their safety. ANCAP's announcement came just a week after the Tesla Model 3 was placed under investigation for breaching Australian national automotive regulation because of the absence of access to child restraint anchorage points, a requirement for certification as a five-seat passenger vehicle. (Related: Chinese-made Teslas bound for Australia SENT BACK after discovery of biosecurity risks.)
The anchorage or tether points were previously present in the model's earlier versions but are starkly absent from the 2024 Tesla Model 3. This "updated" Tesla model was rolled out in Australia and was set to be ready for delivery to customers in December 2023 before the ANCAP's ruling.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts (DITRDCA) has maintained that the department is continuing its investigation into the matter.
"The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is aware of concerns regarding the child restraint anchorage points in the 2024 Tesla Model 3 and is looking into this matter," a DITRDCA spokesperson said. "Road safety is a top priority of the Australian government. That is why we have legislated road vehicle standards in place to ensure all road vehicles, both new and used, being provided to the Australian market for the first time meet critical national standards for safety, security and emissions."
2024 Tesla Model 3s could be banned from sale in Australia
If found to have violated national vehicle compliance rules by the DITRDCA investigation, Tesla Australia may have to discontinue the sale of the facelifted model and recall all deliveries that have been made to customers since its Australasian release in December 2023.
If such a verdict is reached, Tesla will be the second electric vehicle (EV) automaker in the past 18 months to have contravened Australian automotive safety requirements.
Before Tesla Model 3's possible breach of regulations, Chinese EV manufacturer BYD's Atto 3 was found to have breached national regulations due to also missing the rear middle seat back in 2022, prompting the DITRDCA to issue a stop-delivery notice. Vehicles that were delivered before the notice were recalled so they could be brought back into compliance.
These breaches in regulation also come as the rollout of electric cars in Australia continues to face hurdles due to concerns over their safety.
In December 2023, Chinese EV manufacturer Great Wall Motor issued a recall notice for 1,659 GWM Ora compact cars due to a potentially fatal mechanical fault found in the vehicle's charging facilities.
"Due to a programming issue, if the operator removes the charging cable without canceling the charge, an electrical arc between the charging plug and the vehicle may occur," the official Australian government notice reads. "If an electrical arc comes into contact with the operator or bystanders it will increase the risk of serious injury or death."
In November 2023, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a safety alert stating that EVs pose significant risks related to high-intensity fires, high-voltage shocks and gas explosions when put onboard ferries.
In its statement, AMSA specifically noted the flammable nature of the lithium-ion batteries used in the majority of EVs and their capacity for spontaneous thermal runaway fires. AMSA also noted the toxicity of the hydrogen fluoride fumes given off by the lithium-ion battery fires.
Learn more about electric vehicle regulations around the world at RoboCars.news.
Watch this video of Australian social media influencer Luke Erwin reviewing all of the bad things about the Tesla Model 3.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
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