Perfect 2012 Five Star NHTSA Safety Ratings

[AnOutsider]

George said at the Toronto opening the other night that the NHTSA have ordered their cars (I think he said 3) on-line and are awaiting delivery like the rest of us. Once they get them, they'll smash 'em up and report the results. Tesla has done a bunch of their own tests which were used to get the cars certified for road use in the US and Canada. I'm not sure if those results ever get posted.

Does tesla reimburse them?

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Does tesla reimburse them?

We do, with our tax dollars

 

[stopcrazypp]

I'm guessing the key is is "Though NHTSA is unable to rate every car, all vehicles sold in the U.S. must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards". This indicates that the manufacturer has sent in their own test results to NHTSA, which I believe are not actually done in-house but at one of the companies that specializes in crash testing. NHTSA probably sends some of the cars they purchase to the same companies although they probably have their own testing facilities as well.

It's like the MPG figures (except in this case the results are published unless NHTSA tests the cars themselves) where only a portion of the cars are actually tested by the EPA (either randomly selected or selected on purpose if there something special about that particular car).

 

[AnOutsider]

We do, with our tax dollars

Thought that might be the case... Don't tell the tesla haters their taxes paid for 3 more of these things.

 

[vfx]

Thought that might be the case... Don't tell the tesla haters their taxes paid for 3 more of these things.

That type probably wants to eliminate the entire NHTSA with the EPA anyway.

 

[mknox]

Does tesla reimburse them?

Nope. The NHTSA normally just buy the test cars at a dealer, presumably so the auto maker doesn't send them "tweaked" cars that'll pass the tests.

 

[brianman]

Nope. The NHTSA normally just buy the test cars at a dealer, presumably so the auto maker doesn't send them "tweaked" cars that'll pass the tests.

Any idea what they (NHTSA) do with them when they're done? Sell them as used cars?

 

[mknox]

Any idea what they (NHTSA) do with them when they're done? Sell them as used cars?

Well, with electric cars I think they just leave them out in the parking lot for several weeks until they spontaneously catch fire... :tongue:

 

[strider]

Any idea what they (NHTSA) do with them when they're done? Sell them as used cars?

Remember, these are being purchased for crash testing so you probably don't want them when they're finished

 

[brianman]

Remember, these are being purchased for crash testing so you probably don't want them when they're finished

Derp. I was thinking EPA for some reason. Mea culpa.

 

[vfx]

Any idea what they (NHTSA) do with them when they're done? Sell them as used cars?

Once crashed the VIN can never be put on the road. My Dad's company used to buy the wrecks (that I would go pick up) and my brother and I would strip them for parts.