The Federal Motor Transport Authority is also responding after the fatal Tesla crash in Brandenburg

Potsdam. The Motor Transport Authority (KBA) is addressing a problem with the electric car manufacturer’s door handle that came to light after the deaths of two young people in a Tesla crash in Brandenburg. In response to MAZ’s request, KBA reported that it was in contact with other European type approval authorities and that the United Nations Economic Commission (UNECE) was discussing revisions to the requirements for car manufacturers.

Tesla models are registered in the Netherlands

According to its own statement, the KBA makes a “significant contribution to road safety” in Germany. Among other things, it is responsible for issuing type approvals for cars and car parts – but not for Tesla. Because the European headquarters of the American group is based in the Netherlands, authorities there are responsible for approving new Tesla models. According to the KBA, they are now in direct contact with their Dutch counterpart.

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On August 16, 2022, Laura Katharina Franke and Noèl-Maurice Philipp-Milde (both 18) had a fatal accident on the L73. They died in the back seat of a burning Tesla whose rear doors could not be opened from the outside or inside. Since MAZ reported on the fate of friends in memory of the shocking accident and asked the KBA about the safety of Tesla models S, 3, X and Y registered in Germany, the authority has referred to EU standards throughout which are. used in the ratification process come: On the one hand, these must be used faithfully and equitably by the contractual partners. On the other hand, the type approval issued by the testing center according to the applicable European standards must be recognized by other partners.

KBA on Tesla: “Compliant with current legal standards”

In this particular case, according to the KBA, Tesla has received approval from the Netherlands for door locks in accordance with UN-R11 regulation and for the protection of occupants in the event of a side impact in accordance with UN-R95: “The vehicle complies with legal standards currently in use.”

But: Would the KBA have approved their manual emergency doors and openings – if they had existed – if it was responsible for type approval itself? Given the known problem, does the KBA classify certified Tesla models as safe? The KBA remains silent on this.

Acceptance: KBA would not have approved Tesla’s tests in 2016

It has been proven that the approval authorities in different EU countries interpret the agreed standards in different ways. KBA is also already committed to this. In response to questions from journalists in 2016, it said that it had not approved Tesla’s tests – unlike the relevant Dutch authorities.

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KBA can no longer be persuaded to make such a statement. However, following its own argument, it does not respond with “Yes, we would approve the same.” Yes, we consider Tesla door handles to be safe.” Instead, the KBA strictly refers to “currently applicable legal standards”, which are currently under review.

For Tesla and other car manufacturers: specific regulations for doors

UN-R11 refers to the fact that car doors close reliably and, under certain conditions, remain securely closed. Control does not include opening doors. UN-R95 refers to the behavior of doors in side impact. On the question of opening it says: “After the impact, it must be possible, without tools (…), to open a sufficient number of doors that are intended for the normal entry and exit of the residents and, if necessary, to tilt the rear parts or seats, so that all occupants can leave the car.

MAZ