A 2021 Tesla Mannequin S Plaid caught hearth on Tuesday night time in Haverford, Pennsylvania, whereas the proprietor was on the wheel, in line with Charles McGarvey, Chief Fireplace Officer for the Decrease Merion Township Fireplace Division.

Tesla started deliveries of the Mannequin S Plaid, a brand new high-performance model of its flagship sedan, in June, after CEO Elon Musk had stated (on the Joe Rogan Expertise podcast) they might start in February.

Musk explained in April that improvement concerned “extra challenges than anticipated,” and added, “It took fairly a little bit of improvement to make sure that the battery of the brand new S and X is protected.”

The automotive proprietor’s attorneys informed CNBC that he observed smoke coming from the again of his 2021 Mannequin S Plaid and tried to unlock and open the doorways, however needed to pressure his method out of the automobile, because the locks appeared to malfunction. After he left the electrical automobile, it started to maneuver by itself and flames engulfed the automobile.

The proprietor, whose id has not been disclosed, is being represented by Mark Geragos of Geragos & Geragos in Los Angeles, and Jason Setchen of Athlete Defender in Miami.

Two crews of firefighters labored on the scene for simply over 3 hours coping with the emergency, McGarvey informed CNBC.

As NBC Information not too long ago reported, electrical automobile battery fires can take upwards of 25,000 gallons of water to achieve ultimate extinguishment. By comparability, a typical hearth involving an inside combustion automotive could be put out with round 300 gallons of water.

Firefighters eliminated the 2021 Tesla Mannequin S Plaid to a posh to securely story it in a single day, McGarvey stated. The proprietor since had the automotive faraway from that facility, McGarvey stated, and may have the automobile investigated independently to attempt to decide the reason for the fireplace. McGarvey stated his groups had been in contact with Tesla and will launch extra data by way of public information quickly.

A spokesperson for the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration informed CNBC it’s conscious of the Tesla automobile hearth in Pennsylvania, and is in contact with related companies and the producer to collect extra details about the incident. They stated, “If information or investigations present a defect or an inherent threat to security exists, NHTSA will take motion as applicable to guard the general public.“

One other federal automobile security watchdog, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board, will not be conducting an investigation, it informed CNBC.

Tesla is predicted to reveal what number of automobiles it produced and delivered final quarter in coming days. It has not but stated how could new Mannequin S or Mannequin S Plaid vehicles it has delivered to prospects.