It isnt often that Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musks pugnacious platitudes are met with any sort of grace.
Its less common – perhaps unprecedented – for the former leader of an organization on the receiving end of Musks critical side to agree, but thats the case with ex-NHTSA regulator David Strickland. He said Musk had a point in complaining about Teslas recent patch being branded a recall.
As much as Tesla disagrees and Elon disagrees with the characterization of a recall, I would have to say hes partially right there, Strickland told
Bloomberg. What people think of in terms of a recall is you get a letter from the manufacturer to bring your car in to the dealership.
Tesla is able to change vehicle dynamics and make vehicle changes from the sky, said Strickland, who said he couldnt remember a safety repair being made that way before. You dont have to impose an inconvenience on the consumer when that remedy comes in.
The California-based electric car maker sent an over-the-air update to its Model S sedans that was meant to reduce amperage if overheating was detected while charging and mailed replacement adapters to owners after some owners reported fires. NHTSA labelled the move a recall.
Musk wasnt happy about the announcement and expressed his discontent during the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month, taking to Twitter and saying the word recall should be recalled.