http://www.latinpost.com/articles/40998/20150304/tesla-motors-warns-model-s-and-model-x-owners-hacks-and-modifications-could-cause-injury-hurt-brand.htm Tesla Motors Warns Model S and Model X Owners Hacks and Modifications Could Cause Injury, Hurt Brand By Julia Harris Mar 04, 2015
[image http://images.latinpost.com/data/images/full/39336/tesla-model-s.jpg Tesla Model S Tesla Motors wants Model S and Model X owners to refrain from hacks and modifications. (Photo : Elonolizer/Twitter) ] Tesla Motors filed its 2014 annual report with the SEC last week, which lists a variety of risks facing the company. One significant risk: automobile owners may "hack" Tesla vehicles to modify performance, which could compromise vehicle safety systems, reports Business Insider. "If our vehicle owners customize our vehicles or change the charging infrastructure with aftermarket products, the vehicle may not operate properly, which could harm our business," the annual report reads. The company goes on to say that it is aware of customers who have customized their vehicles with after-market parts. It cites customers who have installed seats that elevate the driver so that airbag and other safety systems may not work properly. Wheel and tire changes, along with large speaker systems that could impact the vehicle's electrical systems, are listed as modifications that compromise driver safety. Tesla Motors says it has not tested, nor does it endorse, such changes or products. Worse yet, some hacks could cause electrocution. "In addition, customer use of improper external cabling or unsafe charging outlets can expose our customers to injury from high voltage electricity. Such unauthorized modifications could reduce the safety of our vehicles and any injuries resulting from such modifications could result in adverse publicity which would negatively affect our brand and harm our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results," the company says in the report. The company suffered some bad press in November 2013 when three Model S sedans caught fire within a five week period, adding credence to its concern that if a Model S owner rewired the stereo system it could result in a "Tesla disaster" headline. There is little any automobile manufacturer can do about customers customizing with their rides, which Tesla Motors alludes to in its report. The luxury electric automaker plans to deliver about 55,000 Model S and the anticipated Model X SUV vehicles in 2015, and if it succeeds, it would represent a 70 percent increase over 2014, reports Fortune. [© latinpost.com] http://techaeris.com/2015/03/06/want-trick-new-tesla-tesla-prefer-didnt/ Want To Trick Out Your New Tesla? Tesla Would Prefer If You Didn’t by Justin Jelinek March 6, 2015 [images http://techaeris.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Pimp-My-Tesla.jpg Keep this man away from your new Tesla (Yo daug I hear your Tesla would look great with some fat new rims but Elon Musk is my hero so I am not going to do that) http://techaeris.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Tesla-Customization.jpg No (Tesla-S with Peguin's Batmobile sidewings) ] Say you just dropped your hard-earned money on a brand new Tesla Model S, and you wanted to add a giant Carbon-Fiber spoiler, or LED lighting throughout the interior. First off, either of those things would be ridiculous, the Model S is an amazing looking car as it is (hey Tesla, I’d still be happy to review one, just let me know, ok?), but furthermore, Tesla really doesn’t want you tinkering with their your Model S. In their 2014 Annual Report to the SEC, Tesla specifically mentioned after-market modifications as a potential risk to their company: If our vehicle owners customize our vehicles or change the charging infrastructure with aftermarket products, the vehicle may not operate properly, which could harm our business. Oh really? How so? Automobile enthusiasts may seek to “hack” our vehicles to modify its performance which could compromise vehicle safety systems. Also, we are aware of customers who have customized their vehicles with after-market parts that may compromise driver safety. For example, some customers have installed seats that elevate the driver such that airbag and other safety systems could be compromised. Other customers have changed wheels and tires, while others have installed large speaker systems that may impact the electrical systems of the vehicle. We have not tested, nor do we endorse, such changes or products. In addition, customer use of improper external cabling or unsafe charging outlets can expose our customers to injury from high voltage electricity. Such unauthorized modifications could reduce the safety of our vehicles and any injuries resulting from such modifications could result in adverse publicity which would negatively affect our brand and harm our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. Fair enough. I can certainly understand that tinkering with the electrical system on an electric car might have unforeseen circumstances when it comes to safety and performance. I can appreciate their concern about not wanting to compromise safety systems as well. Just how far do these concerns really go? Probably best to keep your new Tesla off of Xzibit’s long cancelled MTV show. But really, the Tesla Model S is an amazing looking vehicle (call me anytime, Tesla!) and I’m not sure what reason anybody would have to mess with it. 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