Federal regulators are asking Tesla Inc. which recalls about 158,000 vehicles for safety reasons, which would be one of the biggest safety actions of the electric vehicle manufacturer.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked Tesla in a Jan. 13 letter to recall some luxury Model S sedans and Model X sport utility vehicles. NHTSA requested the withdrawal because the car’s touch screens they may fail after a few years of use, affecting security features such as unpacking and backup cameras.
Some vehicle safety recalls have millions of vehicles. Although modest by historical figures, the action would represent a relatively large memory for Tesla, which has far fewer cars on the road than some rivals. According to market research firm Motor Intelligence, the Silicon Valley vehicle maker last year delivered nearly 500,000 vehicles worldwide, approximately 205,600 in the United States. Tesla does not separate its sales by region.
Tesla does not have to recall the vehicles, although NHTSA said in the letter that if the vehicle manufacturer does not take the necessary action, it must explain its decision. The agency can then extend the matter to a public hearing and finally try to force a judicial withdrawal.
Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst at Guidehouse Insights, said the withdrawal request was significant and could cost between $ 300 million and $ 500 million.