CHINA: Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into a horrific car accident that killed two people and injured three others in connection to a Tesla Model Y in Guangdong province on 5 November 2022.

According to local media reports, the accident was caused by an unidentified 55-year-old man who said his car started to have brake problems while he was parked in front of his shop.

Tesla has said it will also be involved in the investigation, as they state that the video shows the brake lights were not released, indicating that the driver did not step on the brakes while the car was accelerating at a fast speed.

"Police are currently seeking a third party appraisal agency to identify the truth behind this accident and we will actively provide any necessary assistance," Tesla told Reuters.

A video posted on social media shows a white Tesla Model Y accelerating, speeding down the road before the driver swerved and collided head-on with a fully loaded tuk-tuk then swerved and crashed into the houses on the side of the road, making dust and debris scatter all over the road. The driver survived the accident with injuries.

A Chinese court has, meanwhile, ordered the driver to make a public apology and provide compensation to Tesla for stating that the accident was caused by the car's malfunctioning braking system before the investigation into the incident could be officially concluded. Tesla state that this claim has damaged the company’s reputation. 

However, this is not the first time a Tesla car has been involved in such an accident. In April 2021, a woman protesting Tesla at a car show in Shanghai wore a T-shirt proclaiming that Tesla’s brakes do not work.

China is Tesla's second-largest market after the United States, with about 1.1 million users.