To the unaware, Tesla’s signature panoramic glass roof might seem like a vulnerability in an accident. The exact opposite is actually true, with it having more strength than a typical car’s roof.
When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tested the Model 3’s glass roof, it was able to handle over 20,000lbs of force. To put that into perspective, that is the equivalent of more than five Model 3’s.
The Model Y is apparently no slouch either after an accident this past weekend in Miami Beach. The incident took place on Pine Tree Drive, where a white Tesla Model Y slammed into the back of another white SUV.
The force was of the impact was great enough that the Model Y ended up underneath the SUV, with its back wheels resting on the roof of the Tesla.
According to the person who took the photo, the driver of the Model Y said he had Autopilot engaged, but it did not brake in time. While it is not possible to verify that fact until the data is retrieved from the vehicle, a driver still needs to be aware of their surroundings and take control of the vehicle if necessary.
This isn’t the first time Tesla’s glass roof has shown off its strength in real-life accidents. In December 2019 a Model 3 in China found itself in a similar predicament with an SUV ending up on its roof. Perhaps the most impressive example was this accident where a concrete utility pole fell directly onto the glass roof, and it was all caught on camera.
