Tesla Model Y falls off a cliff in China, occupants walk away safely

Just before Christmas, a video of a crashed Tesla Model Y went viral on Chinese social media. This Model Y electric SUV fell from a cliff while being driven through the mountainous roads in China.

According to the narrator reporting the aftermath of this incident, it fell from 800 meters. English translations in China may be incorrect due to the language barrier. I think it would be 800 feet, not 800 meters.

However, the impressive part is that the occupants of this Tesla Model Y walked away safely without much harm. According to the reporter of this incident, the driver of this Model Y didn’t sustain even a single injury.

However, this might be an overstatement, but walking away without a major injury in such a situation speaks volumes about the structural safety of Tesla vehicles.

Above: Video of the crashed Model Y after falling from a cliff in China.

The aluminum structure of the Tesla Model Y and the vehicle’s safety-first engineering were the critical factors in withstanding such a high-impact crash.

Even after falling from such a height, most of the structure of the Tesla Model Y remained intact. Only in some areas was it deformed due to the high-velocity collision with the rocks of the mountain.

The front beams and frame of the vehicle weren’t deformed for the most part. However, the rear section probably received most of the hits during the fall, so it was noticeably damaged. However, this didn’t harm the occupants of the vehicle.

Another reason for the structural rigidity of a Tesla electric vehicle is its battery pack. The structural battery pack in a Model Y EV provides extra strength and a low center of gravity, which helps absorb impact and acts as a barrier against vehicle frame deformation.

This extra layer of safety gives Teslas and other EVs an edge over internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. These safety enforcements played a vital role in keeping the occupants safe in this accident in China.

Until the last reports, the rear drive unit was removed from this crashed Model Y, and the front motor and battery pack were next up for removal. After the removal of these heavy components, it will be easier to lift and tow the damaged Tesla Model Y.

Interestingly, against the common misconception, Teslas falling from the mountains aren’t prone to catching fire, like in this case. Last year, a YouTuber tested a Tesla Model 3 by pushing it over the cliff, pleasantly surprised by the outcome, the car did not catch fire.

Tesla’s electric vehicles generally score the highest possible ratings in crash safety tests across the globe. The automaker makes one of the safest vehicles in the world, and incidents like the one in discussion are a prime example of the real-life safety of Tesla vehicles.

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Featured image: Aaron Li (@boolulisan via X).

Note: This article was published earlier on Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali.