agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Tesla Shares Down After Stolen Vehicle Crash in California

July 8, 2014
2 min to read


Tesla Motors Inc. TSLA's shares declined 2.9% to $222.66 on Monday following the violent crash Friday of a Model S that burst into flames after it hit a pole in Southern California, reported The Wall Street Journal.


Tesla is awaiting a police report and access to the remains of the vehicle.

Ad Loading...


There were seven injuries but no deaths reported after a man stole a vehicle from a Tesla store in Los Angeles and led police on a wild chase through the city, hitting speeds of 100 mph, before crashing into several cars and then a pole in West Hollywood, according to a report on television station KTLA-TV. A report from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the crash, wasn't immediately available. A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman said the car was stolen around midnight, and police officers pursued the car but were involved in a crash during the pursuit.


Following the crash, the lithium-ion batteries from the car—spread around in clumps on the street—began to burn, some popping like fireworks and shooting into the air. Bystanders recorded the wreckage and burning batteries in mobile phone video shown by the television station.


The Model S split in half, with the front landing on another car and the back wedging between two walls at a synagogue.


This is the second report of a Tesla being crashed at high-speeds and burning after impact. The other was in Mexico. In both cases, the drivers weren't killed. The driver of the stolen Model S was thrown from the vehicle and was in critical condition, according to the television report.


Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he is proud that there has been no fatal injuries in any accidents with Model S vehicles. Still, of the roughly 30,000 vehicles sold globally, at least four have ended up burning following a collision. Two other Model S vehicles burned after hitting road debris, which led Tesla to install shielding to the underbody.

Ad Loading...


Car fires are relatively common in the U.S. A study by the U.S. Fire Administration said there were about 65,000 car fires a year from 2008-2010, leading to 300 deaths. Collisions were attributed as a factor in 4% of these fires, or roughly 2,600 fires a year out of the U.S. vehicle fleet of about 250 million. Most vehicle fires occur from electrical wiring, engine or tire malfunctions.

More Industry

Blue and white RV parked on beach facing the ocean.
Industryby Lauren LawrenceSeptember 3, 2026

RV Group Expands Carolina Footprint

Blue Compass RV Columbia Northeast is the 13th RV dealership owned by Blue Compass in the Carolinas.

Read More →
Photo of two men and one woman on a discussion panel
Industryby Hannah MitchellSeptember 1, 2026

Agent Acumen

An Agent Summit panel of people who’ve been supporting auto dealers for years gave both timely and timeless advice for those starting out or mulling the prospect.

Read More →
Gloved hand holding two wrenches next to “Turn Overdue into Opportunity” Graphic
Industryby Lauren LawrenceAugust 27, 2026

Missed Maintenance Creates Opportunity

As families get back on the road and into daily school routines, service drives have an opportunity to capture customers who are behind on recommended vehicle maintenance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Mitsubishi shadow line-up
Industryby Hannah MitchellAugust 25, 2026

Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan

The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.

Read More →
Photo of a laptop, cellphone and eyeglasses on a desk next to an office window
IndustryAugust 24, 2026

Selling to Grow

The question of whether you should sell your agency and if so, when, is up to you. But it’s a question worth asking to ensure you keep the business on the right path for yourself, employees and clients.

Read More →
Mechanic holding a vehicle diagnostic device while standing above an open car hood
Industryby Hannah MitchellAugust 24, 2026

Recalled Vehicles Hit 5-Year High

Though the number of events has fallen so far this year, impacted units are up significantly. Meanwhile, regulators consider consumer notification changes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
outside of car dealership with cars parked in front
Industryby Lauren LawrenceAugust 20, 2026

Auto Group Acquires Top-Performing Rooftop

Car Pros sold its Kia Huntington Beach location to Sutherlin Automotive Group, marking the buyer’s third location in Southern California.

Read More →
Cars from the rear on a Shanghai freeway
Industryby Hannah MitchellAugust 19, 2026

China as Pacesetter

Automotive leaders huddled on where North America stands in the global picture and how it can strengthen its position against the Asian juggernaut’s surging industry.

Read More →
Orange BMW car on empty road.
Industryby Hannah MitchellAugust 14, 2026

BMW Concept Car Makes Fuel to Burn

The prototype developed in concert with a South Carolina university engineering team generates more solar energy than it uses in a typical daily commute.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Six men standing for photo outside of car dealership
Industryby Lauren LawrenceAugust 13, 2026

South Carolina Auto Group Downsizes

Florida-based group Holler-Classic has acquired four rooftops, its first in South Carolina, from Dick Smith Automotive Group.

Read More →
Ad Loading...