Business · Companies · 17 hrs ago
Tesla ordered to repay insurer C$161,700 for Montreal Model X fire
A 2020 Tesla Model X caught fire in Montreal in March 2023 while its owner, Sacha De Santis, was driving with his girlfriend.
Smoke filled the cabin after they turned on the heat, and the SUV was destroyed within about five minutes of them leaving it.
Police concluded that the fire was not criminal, and an expert report said a premature electrical failure in the dashboard was probable.
The car was still under Tesla’s factory warranty, so De Santis’s insurer, Intact, paid him C$161,700 and sought repayment from Tesla Canada.
Intact won a default judgment in June, and Tesla later asked a Quebec court to overturn it.
Tesla argued that car fires are generally caused by misuse or vandalism, but the judge said the company had offered no data to support that claim and rejected its request.
Tesla must repay Intact, though the insurer said the deadline to appeal has not expired.
Tesla Canada must repay insurer Intact C$161,700 for a 2020 Model X that caught fire in Montreal.
A court rejected Tesla’s request to undo a default judgment in Intact’s recovery claim.
An expert report found the fire started on the passenger side of the dashboard and said a premature electrical failure was probable.
Tesla argued that car fires are generally caused by misuse or vandalism, but the judge said it provided no data to support that claim.
The fire happened in March 2023 while the vehicle was still under Tesla’s warranty.
- Who
- Tesla Canada must repay Intact, the insurer that paid the vehicle’s owner.
- What
- A Quebec court rejected Tesla’s request to undo a default judgment requiring it to repay C$161,700.
- When
- The fire happened on March 5, 2023; Intact obtained the default judgment in June. The articles do not state the year of that June.
- Where
- Montreal, in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough.
- Why
- An expert report traced the fire to a probable premature electrical failure in the dashboard, and the vehicle was still under warranty.
Intact
Tesla Canada
Cause of fire
Intact
Intact relied on an expert report that found a probable premature electrical failure in the dashboard.
Tesla Canada
Tesla argued that car fires are generally caused by misuse or vandalism, but provided no supporting data, according to the judge.
Recovery of payment
Intact
Intact sought to recover the C$161,700 it had paid the owner for the vehicle.
Tesla Canada
Tesla asked the court to retract the default judgment requiring repayment; the judge rejected its request.
The Model X caught fire in Montreal after smoke began filling the cabin shortly after the occupants turned on the heat.
Montreal police concluded that the fire was not criminal.
Intact obtained a default judgment against Tesla; the article does not state the year.
Tesla asked the court to retract it, and Justice Ian Demers rejected the request.
- Repayment
- C$161,700
- Vehicle
- 2020 Tesla Model X
- Fire location
- Passenger side of the dashboard
- Owner
- Sacha De Santis
- Insurer
- Intact
- Fire date
- March 5, 2023
What people are saying
the slightest serious
generally
Sources
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