First Tesla Model 3 Crash Outside North America Takes Place In Greece, Autopilot Reportedly Engaged

A Tesla Model 3 crashed in northern Greece on May 25, and with the Autopilot reportedly engaged, making it probably the first Model 3 accident outside North America in the world.

You You Xue, the California-based driver of the Model 3, was taking a road trip with his new electric car having already traveled through 25 countries in six months and covering around 24,000 miles (39,000km).

The driver claims he had Autopilot engaged and traveling at the speed limit (120km/h – 75mph) when the Model 3 suddenly veered right, towards a highway exit without warning. Xue, who admits having one hand at the wheel at the time and not paying full attention on the road, attempted to correct the steering when the front left of the car crashed into the barrier.

“My Autopilot maximum speed was set at approximately 120 km/h (75mph), the speed limit for this highway. The highway was well-marked, well-maintained, and well-lit. The conditions were dry, and there was no traffic around me. The highway was two lanes in each direction, separated by a concrete median. The highway in my direction of travel divided at a fork, with the #2 right lane changing into the exit lane, and the #1 left lane remaining the lane for thru traffic. I was traveling in the #1 lane”, Xue said in a statement on his Facebook page.

“My left hand was grasping the bottom of the steering wheel during the drive, my right hand was resting on my lap. The vehicle showed no signs of difficulty following the road up until this fork. As the gore point began, approximately 8m before the crash barrier and end of the fork, my Model 3 veered suddenly and with great force to the right. I was taking a glance at the navigation on my phone, and was not paying full attention to the road. I was startled by the sudden change in direction of the car, and I attempted to apply additional grip onto the steering wheel in an attempt to correct the steering. This input was too late and although I was only a few inches from clearing the crash barrier, the front left of the vehicle near the wheel well crashed into the right edge of the barrier, resulting in severe damage.”

“I was not harmed in the collision, and no medical attention has been sought. I was wearing my seatbelt before and during the collision. None of the airbags deployed”, Xue added.

The crash resulted in a completely shattered front left wheel, a misaligned front axle and lots of bodywork damage, among other things. A video was posted a few hours after the crash showing the road where it all went down.

https://www.facebook.com/thanar/videos/10157548535296110/

Tesla has repeatedly said that drivers must keep both hands on the wheel and ready to take over control of the vehicle. In addition, the Tesla Model 3 isn’t yet approved or homologated for driving outside the U.S. and Canada.

Tesla sent a statement to Electrek on the accident, saying: “[…] Tesla does not yet have a presence in Eastern Europe and that there is no connectivity or service available for vehicles there […] Although we haven’t been able to retrieve any data from the vehicle given that the accident occurred in an unsupported area, Tesla has always been clear that the driver must remain responsible for the car at all times when using Autopilot. We’re sorry to hear that this accident occurred, and we’re glad You You is safe.”

You You Xue also said was contacted by a Tesla customer service manager, telling him that the car can be diagnosed in a European service center in Germany -he was previously informed that this couldn’t happen in Europe and that the car must return to the US for a diagnosis.

H/T to Autogreeknews, newsauto.gr