In May, a video of a Tesla Model Y crashing down a city street in Dayu County, China, was released. The video quickly circulated due to several factors. First, the Tesla’s trajectory was indeed unusual. The EV flipped tail-over-tea kettle an incredible seven times before landing. Second, reportedly, all passengers escaped the accident with only minor injuries. Now, Elon Musk posted a remark to the footage on X.

In the video embedded below, the Tesla hurtles through the air, cartwheeling repeatedly. It’s truly the (horrifying) stuff of an action film. A second video plays with the crash footage, showing the severe resulting damage to the car and glimpses of the passengers inside. Both windshields, the roof glass, and the side windows shattered. The airbags all deployed. The Model Y’s frame and unibody bent and crumpled with each impact.

Incredibly, the right front passenger uses his cell phone prior to extraction. There are obvious injuries, but the ability to focus on and use your touch screen after such an event is wild.

Elon Musk’s remark is simply put: “Safety is our primary design goal.”

The IIHS awarded the 2024 Tesla Model Y with its Top Safety Pick+ designation. The EV received “Good” ratings in all categories except “LATCH ease of use.”

While the outcome of the accident certainly isn’t as bad as it could have been, I’m wondering how the heck the Model Y got into such a predicament in the first place. After all, the NHTSA is again investigating Tesla’s Autopilot. The authority questions how well Tesla ensures drivers are paying enough attention to avoid preventable collisions.