Customers test drive at a Tesla flagship store in Shanghai in January, 2021. Photo:VCG

A staff member from Tesla's customer service platform told the Global Times on Friday that all its vehicles meet national safety standards, and he has not yet been informed about the car accident involving celebrity Jimmy Lin Chih-ying and his son.

According to Taiwan-based media outlet TVBS, Jimmy Lin Chih-ying, a Taiwan-based Chinese actor and singer, was in a car accident, crashing into a roadside barrier on Friday morning while driving a Tesla, the front of the vehicle caught fire following the crash. 

Lin and his son sustained injuries and were taken to hospital. Local media outlet ET today reported that Lin's third brother said that Lin has sustained multiple injuries and fractures, and that Lin and his son were in stable condition.

Lin's workshop announced on Monday on China's Twitter-like social media Sina Weibo that Lin is recovering in hospital and remains conscious, but still cannot recall how the accident occurred.

A Taiwan-based media outlet cited the Department of Transportation at Taoyuan city as saying that the guide sign knocked down by Lin's car should cost about 100,000 new Taiwan dollars ($3,350). The authorities will ask Lin for its compensation. 

Concerning some rumors that the accident might occur because of traffic signal glitches, the department ruled out the possibility, saying that the accident happened during daytime. 

It will take about seven to 14 days to repair the damaged guide sign, the department said, adding that it would coordinate workers to complete the job as soon as possible.
Chinese media outlet JW View reported on Friday that Tesla's customer service staff said that the body of the vehicle that Lin was driving contained no flammable material, and the cause of the fire is still unclear.

"In case of an emergency, the driver and co-driver can force the doors to unlock even in the event of a power failure, and rear passengers can escape through the trunk," the customer service employee said.

The staff member added that Tesla driver's seat includes no inbuilt flammable materials, and the entire vehicle design accounts for extreme conditions. "All vehicles that meet national safety standards do not include particularly flammable materials," the employee was quoted as saying to JW View.

Following the accident, the police confirmed that Lin had not been drunk driving and that the specific cause of the accident was subject to further investigation.

Global Times