Skip to main content

Analyst says Tesla Model 3 is 10 times safer than your average car

Is safety your top reason to pick one car over another? If it is, then Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas was talking about you in a letter he sent to clients about Tesla’s Model 3 this week, Electrek reports.

The Model 3 is scheduled to start shipping to buyers later in 2017. Jonas was referring to the 3’s automated driving or “driving assist” features, which don’t go as far as autonomous driving. With automated driving, human drivers are still required in the driver’s seat with eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel. The Model 3’s automated safety feature list include components such as collision avoidance and automatic braking

Recommended Videos

“We think the Model 3 will feature hardware and software that provide a level of active safety that could significantly lead all other cars on sale today and could, if the company achieves its goal, be an order of magnitude (i.e. 10 times) safer than the average car on the road,” Jonas wrote. “According to nearly every OEM we talk to, safety is the number one determinant of car purchases. Look for safety to be the ‘ah-hah!’ moment for this car due to launch this year.”

The Model 3, like all newer Teslas, will come standard with a full suite of sensors and autonomous driving software, but they won’t all be turned on, pending further development and testing plus regulatory approval. The hardware and software will, however, be put to use in always-on modes that can help prevent accidents.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated the Model 3 will get five-star safety ratings in all NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) tests. Jonas made it more personal when he wrote to his clients that, “The driver is still human … but with a ‘superhuman’ assist.”

If tests and driver experience do end up showing the Tesla Model 3 to be 10 times safer than average cars, it could be difficult to find an argument not to buy one. Unless, of course, other companies catch up.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Volkswagen ID.4 vs Tesla Model Y
volkswagen id4 vs tesla model y 2021 id 4 blue charging

The electric car world is seriously heating up, with a number of high-end electric crossovers now available, albeit still at a higher price than comparable gas-powered cars. The Tesla Model Y is one of the first of these, offering the Tesla design, a high-tech software experience, and more. But another one of the older of these models is the Volkswagen ID.4, which was first released in 2021 and also offers among the better electric car experiences out there.

Can the ID.4 compete with one of the best-selling electric cars out there? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to compare between these two cars is design, and they take a slightly different approach.

Read more
Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Read more
Tesla launches more affordable Model S and Model X, but there’s a catch
A 2021 Tesla Model S.

Tesla has launched more affordable versions of its Model S sedan and Model X SUV in the U.S. and Canada, though they come with shorter driving ranges. Deliveries of the new vehicles will begin next month.

The new Model S "standard range" vehicles cost $78,490 and offer a range of up to 320 miles (515 kilometers), which is considerably shorter than the pricier regular dual-motor and tri-motor Plaid versions that feature a range of 405 miles and 396 miles, respectively, Reuters reported.

Read more