Tesla Model 3 To Get Another Chance At Key Recommendation After Brake Fix

Recently Consumer Reports (CR) tested the Tesla Model 3 and found that the car had braking distances that were much longer than other vehicles in its class. That poor brake performance led the publication to withhold the coveted "Recommended" rating for the car. The publication has now announced that it will give the Model 3 another chance.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised a software update that would fix the brake issue. CR saw the Model 3 it tested was initially able to stop from 60 mph in 130-feet, but it was unable to repeat that task. CR says that even after leaving the car overnight to completely cool the brakes, the Model 3 could only muster an average stopping distance of 152-feet.

The poor brake performance led CR to cite "big flaws" in the vehicle most notably braking that was slower than a full-size truck. CR's director of automotive testing Jake Fisher said that if Tesla can update the brakes over the air, the publication would retest the Model 3.

However, Fisher noted that updating brakes over the air would be an industry first. Musk for his part said via Twitter that the two Model 3 vehicles CR had tested were early versions before improvements had been made. Musk tweeted that the issue "looked" like it could be fixed with a firmware update.

Tesla has admitted that it was in "production hell" with the Model 3. Some of the onus for lower than expected production rates was placed on overreliance on robots. Tesla continues to promise significantly increased production rates for the car in the near future.

SOURCE: Reuters