Tesla Blames Isolated Battery Module for Shanghai Fire, Issues Software Fix
Tesla reveals that a single faulty battery module caused the widely publicized Model S fire in Shanghai, denying any systemic vehicle defect. The automaker is responding with an over-the-air software update for Model S and Model X vehicles to adjust charge and thermal management settings.
Tesla announces that a single faulty battery module causes the April Model S fire in Shanghai, confirming that the incident is not a systemic defect. A team of investigators determines that the issue originates from a battery module at the front of the vehicle after analyzing battery, vehicle history, software, and manufacturing data.
In response to this fire and a similar incident in Hong Kong, Tesla issues an over-the-air software update for Model S and Model X vehicles to modify battery charge and thermal management settings. The company notes that this update protects the battery and improves its longevity out of an abundance of caution, though it does not apply to Model 3 vehicles.
These Tesla fires occur alongside broader battery safety concerns in the electric vehicle industry, prompting competitors Nio and Audi to take action. Nio recalls nearly 5,000 ES8 SUVs due to a design vulnerability that risks short circuits, while Audi voluntarily recalls its E-Tron SUVs in the U.S. because moisture can seep into the battery cell through a wiring harness.