¡Ay, caramba! Another Tesla goes up in flames, this time in Mexico

By Nick Jaynes October 28, 2013

second tesla model s catches fire critical crash mexico 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Is the beginning of an onslaught of fiery Tesla Model S wrecks?

A second Tesla Model S reportedly caught fire last week after crashing through a concrete wall in Mexico.

According to Mexican paper Progreso Hoy (by way of Business Insider), a Model S owner was speeding when he lost control of the car and went through a concrete wall and then into a large tree.

You can see the resulting fire in the video below.

The man was apparently not seriously injuries and walked away from the incident.

Here is an official recount from Tesla:

“We were able to contact the driver quickly and are pleased that he is safe. This was a significant accident where the car was traveling at such a high speed that it smashed through a concrete wall and then hit a large tree, yet the driver walked away from the car with no permanent injury. He is appreciative of the safety and performance of the car and has asked if we can expedite delivery of his next Model S.”

The first reported Model S fire occurred earlier this month when a Washington State driver struck an object in the road, which caused a fire in the front portion of the car, beneath the carpeted trunk area. It appears the Mexican Model S fire also began in the forward section of the car.

Just as I reported in the story of the first Model S crash, “Around 150,000 cars catch fire each year on American roads.”

Elon Musk himself was quick to point out: “That equates to 1 vehicle fire for every 20 million miles driven, compared to 1 fire in over 100 million miles for Tesla. This means you are 5 times more likely to experience a fire in a conventional gasoline car than a Tesla!”

So although this is the second Model S fire in a month, it by no means indicates a wide-spread Tesla fire issue.

We’ll be watching this story closely and will be sure to bring you more should any further information surface.

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Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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