Tesla sets the record straight: Roadster has airbags, okay?

Tesla VP of Sales, Marketing, and Service, Darryl Siry, set the record straight on the whole airbag wavier thing: in case it wasn't already clear, the Roadster does indeed have driver and passenger airbags. The waiver was regarding the fact that currently "front passenger airbag does not vary its deployment based on the weight of the passenger," and thus needed the waiver not unlike other boutique automakers (he cites the Ferrari F430 as an example). Of course, this misunderstandings and misinformation might have been mitigated if Tesla just addressed the issue at the time (instead of waiting a month after the fact); we can only hope their non-metaphoric airbags don't take as long to deploy.

[EdMercer @ Mar 1st 2008 9:56AM]

Tesla misspelt twice (once in title, once in body). We foreigners tend to be such grammar-nazis. :P

[Amy @ Mar 1st 2008 10:17AM]

Yeas, it would be nice if engadget could decide if they are reporting about Telsa or Tesla.

[mr friggles @ Mar 1st 2008 11:01AM]

Engaaaaahget does it again. I'm pretty sure I heard about this airbag issue a long while ago (on autoblog). Sorry, Telsa's not late, you guys are.

They requested the waiver for the other airbags because including the other design in all cars would have required some structural modifications that would have priced them out of business (no more Tesla motors).

Great article though. The writer can't decide if he wants to talk about a car company or a genius scientist. Then he insinuates the airbags won't be as safe without one shred of evidence or mention why he thinks that. Now who's the one spreading misinformation?

[Kurtis @ Mar 1st 2008 11:20AM]

@mr friggles

"Sorry, Telsa's not late, you guys are."
"(no more Tesla motors)"
"The writer can't decide if he wants to talk about a car company or a genius scientist."

Think (proofread) before you speak (submit you comment)... especially if you don't want to make yourself look like an ass.

[Ryan Block @ Mar 1st 2008 12:20PM]

Thanks for the heads up, that's pretty bad. Guess that's what I get for staying up late on Friday night to write news!

[mr friggles @ Mar 1st 2008 1:22PM]

@Kurtis

"Think (proofread) before you speak (submit you comment)... especially if you don't want to make yourself look like an ass."

Actually I was parodying the writing in this article (which they've since edited), but I see that went waaay over your head. Nice of you to join in on the comments though, Ryan.

[happy_penguin @ Mar 1st 2008 2:04PM]

That's okay Ryan. We'll give you a pass.... this time. :p

[James Barnes @ Mar 2nd 2008 1:58AM]

@Ryan

from previous Engaget post (31 Jan 08) on this; "Standard air bags are still included".

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/tesla-roadster-gets-air-bag-waiver-for-green-behavior/

Why would you be saying that Tesla screwed up by "waiting a month after the fact" when, just about exactly a month ago, you reported said fact (and, indeed, linked it under your current article)?

Spelling mistakes bother me less then inconsistent reporting, frankly

For the record, I am in support of the Tesla concept but find it very sad that they didn't work a bit harder to avoid handing such a stick to their critics. Interesting that the F430 has a similar waiver, why did it get that I wonder?

[bob sakamano @ Mar 1st 2008 9:57AM]

yeah... Ryan seems to be up early Blogging today I don't think he is all there yet

[ijyt @ Mar 1st 2008 10:12AM]

What is this about.

[Mr. Gremlin @ Mar 1st 2008 10:19AM]

While I have very high hopes for the Tesla and electric cars moreover, I have never thought of them as being "safe." This seems to be a common conception, and I hope its something that will be addressed in high-end electrics like the Tesla; although, it may sadly have to wait until there are larger family oriented cars.

Don't mess this up Tesla! We're all pulling for you...

[Schmitty @ Mar 1st 2008 10:52AM]

Uhhhh....how are they any less safe than regular gas-powered cars? What car-makers need to do is put an electric drivetrain in a regular production car, say Honda Accord, and then it is just as safe as any car...

[r3loaded @ Mar 1st 2008 10:58AM]

@Schmitty

I think it's to do with Engadget's irrational (or rational, depending on how you look at it) fear of lithium-ion batteries. That said, with respect to the batteries this car will be much safer.

[Schmitty @ Mar 1st 2008 12:09PM]

Ahhhh.....I didn't notice that....and I find it ironic that people are afraid of rather innocuous batteries but have no problem traveling at 120KM/hr+ with 50-120L of gasoline or diesel directly below them....

....oh if only ignorance were not so rampant this world would be a much better place....

[Mr. Gremlin @ Mar 1st 2008 1:14PM]

The reasoning behind this notion might be that conventionally in order to make up for less hp, electric cars have had to be extremely light-weight and people associate things that are light-weight with being poor-quality and flimsy. + luxury car manufacturers have shied away from electrics and hybrids, which adds to the general conception that they are inferior. ...so in order to ensure that electrics have a solid footing as they grow in popularity, manufacturers will need to ensure consumers that they are just as safe (if not safer) than gas-powered cars.

[Jordan @ Mar 1st 2008 10:52AM]

I love this car :D

[LJKelley @ Mar 1st 2008 10:58AM]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I got the impression a month ago that the Tesla did have airbags, just not the new airbags being required. But I'm glad Tesla informed us of the exact difference.

Personally, knowing how people drive, I think I will stick with a safer car for now.

[gcww99 @ Mar 1st 2008 10:58AM]

Wonder what the replacement cost is of the battery pack... or upkeep of the car over 100,000miles...

[Mobius_1 @ Mar 1st 2008 11:15AM]

What would happen if I drove this into a swimming pool? hehe...

[CongoZombie @ Mar 1st 2008 11:41AM]

It would get wet.

[siry @ Mar 1st 2008 11:42AM]

I didn't "set the record straight" earlier because I honestly didn't think so many people would get it wrong. To me the notion that a street legal car could be exempted from airbags was absurd. When some folks reported it incorrectly, it became a case of "the lady doth protest too much, methinks." Finally, I figured the best approach would be to handle it on a blog as a series called "Mythbusters". My next post is going to point out that the Tesla is far from an "electrified elise" as is often reported. In fact, less than 7 percent of parts are carried over. That blog will go up early next week.

[Adam @ Mar 1st 2008 12:17PM]

"To me the notion that a street legal car could be exempted from airbags was absurd."

Certainly allowed here in Europe. My perfectly street legal TVR sportscar has no airbags, or ABS, or traction control. TVR's answer when asked why not? "We make our cars for heterosexuals" ;)

[Onetruebill @ Mar 1st 2008 10:14PM]

@Adam

"We make our cars for heterosexuals" ;)

How did YOU get one??

[AlphaTeam @ Mar 1st 2008 12:48PM]

There are plenty of cars out there that are doing fine without advanced airbags. Wear your seat belt, drive safely and everything should be fine.

[Ransom @ Mar 1st 2008 12:59PM]

"Tesla VP of Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Service..."

so... Vice President of Vice President of Sales, etc?
or does VP mean something else?

[mr friggles @ Mar 1st 2008 1:21PM]

@Kurtis

"Think (proofread) before you speak (submit you comment)... especially if you don't want to make yourself look like an ass."

Actually I was parodying the writing in this article (which they've since edited), but I see that went waaay over your head.

[pyro @ Mar 1st 2008 2:22PM]

I'm sure it's the test results are the same as the lotus elise, since the tesla is just a modified elise.

[MacBookOwner @ Mar 1st 2008 3:18PM]

"Of course, this misunderstandings and misinformation might have been mitigated if Tesla just addressed the issue at the time"

Come on, who really cared? Its not like anyone on the list to get the first batch of them would give a shit about this issue, and no one else can get one anyways at this point. The only people getting all frothy were the bloggers, who cannot afford :p

[jake @ Mar 1st 2008 5:05PM]

Ha, ha, I find that quite true most of the time. The ones complaining the most are the ones who will NEVER buy one. Every single little issue that comes up there will be plenty who complain and refer to the $100k price tag and say OMG noone will buy one. Good thing is Tesla has very good communication with the owners who already put down deposits on the car and has a dedicated owners page.
If you think about it, it's kind of like the Macbook Air. Everyone goes: $1.7k, or $3k w/ SSD: OMG way too expensive. But they will never consider buying one in the first place.

But I can understand why they wanted to correct this as it is misinformation and can cause the general public to think the roadster is an unsafe car, which is not good for the image of the company.

[Richard S. @ Mar 1st 2008 7:29PM]

Hey Ryan,
What's a Wavier?

[Adam @ Mar 2nd 2008 10:27AM]

@ Onetruebill

"How did YOU get one??"

Bought it second hand :)

Ps, same time tonight?