Tesla’s redesign of the Mannequin 3 has now been unveiled in lots of markets, that includes the removing of a number of elements — notably together with the removing of a shifting stalk.
Because the announcement, nonetheless, some have additionally noticed that Tesla could have eliminated a front-seat airbag from the design, leaving some onlookers with questions.
Earlier this week, Reddit u/Capital-Pomegranate6 observed that the brand new Mannequin 3 doesn’t embrace a knee airbag for front-seat passengers, as noticed within the French proprietor’s handbook. Apparently, the handbook additionally reveals that the design has a further airbag inside the driving force’s seat, which seems to be the identical one observed in China-built Mannequin Y items final 12 months.
Some customers responded that the design may very well be region-based, relying on what airbags can be found in sure nations. Others stated that U.S. laws could require knee airbags whereas European nations don’t. Nonetheless, u/Capital-Pomegranate6 reiterated that their Mannequin 3 does embrace the knee airbags, although others outdoors of North America identified that theirs didn’t.
Above: Airbags within the U.S./North America Tesla Mannequin 3, based on the proprietor’s handbook. (Credit score: Tesla)
In any case, it appears clear from the U.S. proprietor’s handbook (and people of different North American nations) that pre-refresh Mannequin 3 builds embrace knee airbags. The brand new Mannequin 3 design just isn’t but on sale in the UK, nonetheless, and you’ll see of their proprietor’s handbook that the older European-shipped fashions additionally didn’t embrace a knee airbag.
It’s not clear as of but whether or not the brand new Mannequin 3 will embrace the knee airbags within the U.S. or different North American nations. At the moment, there aren’t any markets with knee airbags of their proprietor’s handbook.
Above: Tesla’s airbags within the 2024 Mannequin 3 refresh (left; through French homeowners handbook) in comparison with the pre-refresh Mannequin 3 (proper; through UK proprietor’s handbook). (Credit score: Tesla)
Nonetheless, it’s completely attainable that Tesla might take away the knee airbags in 2024 Mannequin 3 builds in North America, particularly in the event that they aren’t deemed obligatory. Capital-Pomegranate6 additionally factors out that the European New Automotive Evaluation Programme (EuroNCAP) conducts thorough security testing of recent vehicles. As such, Tesla might merely prioritize the internal driver’s seat airbag as extra crucial, particularly if it nonetheless meets North American security requirements.
In 2019, the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) printed an article stating that researchers discovered knee airbags might have “a negligible impact on damage threat,” even making accidents extra doubtless in some circumstances. The accompanying examine confirmed that knee airbags decreased damage dangers from 7.9 p.c to 7.4 p.c in a real-world evaluation. The 0.5-percent drop was “not statistically vital,” based on the IIHS.
“There are various totally different design methods for shielding in opposition to the type of leg and foot accidents that knee airbags are supposed to handle,” stated Becky Mueller, IIHS senior analysis engineer and co-author of the examine. “Different choices could also be simply as, if no more, efficient.”
The IIHS additionally acknowledges that some producers have continued constructing vehicles with knee airbags. Regardless of their probably marginal results, the group provides that automakers may very well be utilizing knee airbags to focus on excessive scores on federally mandated exams, and particularly these requiring dummies to be unbelted.
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