The video started with the Model X driver casually walking towards the vehicle. The owner opened the rear trunk of the electric SUV before heading over to the driver’s side Falcon Wing Door, which he also promptly opened. From what could be seen in the short clip, the Model X owner seemed to be looking at something on the second-row seats of the SUV before opening the driver’s side door and putting the vehicle on Drive.

As soon as the driver started the vehicle, a series of loud warning beeps could be heard coming from the Tesla. Despite these warnings, however, the driver of the Model X attempted to drive the car into the garage anyway. A couple of seconds after, a loud and painful crash could be heard, followed by the owner backing up and examining the damage to his electric car’s Falcon Wing Door. Looking at the damage, the owner promptly took a picture with his smartphone before lamenting about his Model X.

Considering the events in the video, members of the Tesla community are speculating that the car’s owner might have been severely distracted, having forgotten entirely that his electric SUV’s FWD was open before driving the car.

Here’s a video of the incident.

After all, the Model X does warn its drivers about the status of its Falcon Wing Doors. As could be seen in this video from our friends at Like Tesla, the Model X issues audible and visible warnings when a driver attempts to drive the electric SUV with its FWD open. During Kim and her husband’s demonstration, the couple noted that visible warnings were prominently appearing on both of the Model X’s displays. Apart from this, loud beeps could also be heard unless the doors were closed.

Despite these incessant warnings, however, Like Tesla also explained that it is still possible to drive the Model X with its Falcon Wing Doors open. The speed of the vehicle, however, would be limited only to around 30 mph. As could be seen in the recent Model X FWD accident, however, it only takes a little speed and a considerable amount of neglect to damage the Tesla SUV’s most iconic feature.

Since the Model X’s release, Tesla has been continually improving the sensing capabilities of the Model X’s Falcon Wing Doors through the release of over-the-air updates, as we noted in a previous report. 

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The India-based company  announced in a conference call that it would be supplying Tesla with components of its vehicles through a vendor.

“I am very happy to inform that Igarashi… will be delivering motors for three types of… requirements of the Tesla platform,” P Mukund, the managing director of Igarashi Motors India Ltd., said in the conference call.

The company reportedly will be providing motors for Tesla’s iconic Model X Falcon Wing doors, as well as door lever retractors and motors for steering tilt and column adjustment, according to Bloomberg Quint.

It is unclear who the vendor is as of the time of this reporting.

Igarashi shares rose 11 percent Tuesday after the news.

Igarashi Motors India is a part of the international Igarashi network. Igarashi started in early 1992 as a joint venture between Crompton Greaves Limited,  Igarashi Electric works Ltd (IEWL) and the International Components Corporation.

Aside from India, the company has locations in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Germany and Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.

The company is most known for its DC motors. The motors come in 9 models as per the company’s website.

The Tesla deal is just the latest for Igarashi, which also has ramped up its work with Bosch.

Bosch, which previously announced it was developing a $1.1B semiconductor plant for autonomous cars, is well-known as a manufacturer of braking systems and combustion engines, as well as software development. The company is now investing in newer technologies to adapt to the ever-changing way people approach driving.

Igarashi and Bosch will likely work together on automation as that is the crux of Bosch’s work right now, and Mukund alluded to that being what drew the companies together.

With Igarashi on board, Tesla continues to grow its international network of suppliers while sourcing materials from around the globe to craft its vehicles.

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The community responded in droves but arguably the most important response came by way of Tesla’s President of Global Sales and Service Jon McNeill. jmc-at-tesla acknowledged the Model X owner’s public outcry for help and issued an immediate response: “I’m head of sales and service at Tesla and want to help with your situation. Please send me your VIN# — you can direct message me on Twitter (@jonmcneill), or on the Tesla Motors Club forum at JonMc.”

Tesla’s non-traditional engagement of its customers directly in online forums like the Tesla Motors Club, Reddit and Teslarati has helped the company catch issues earlier and ahead of any negative swirl that often surfaces when left unresolved. Tesla applied this very same approach after a Ludicrous Model S owner reported losing power after too many hard launches. Jon McNeill, again, stepped in to address the concerns head on. What followed was a firmware update that removed power-limiting features on affected Model S and Model X vehicles.

Though the original poster myteslastory appeared to be invoking the California Lemon Law which includes a provision for purchased vehicles to be returned in the event that the “vehicle’s problems could cause death or serious bodily injury if it is driven, and the manufacturer or dealer has made at least two unsuccessful repair attempts”,  reassurance from McNeill could allow the parties to resolve the issues more amicably.

Tesla is no stranger to the Lemon Law after several Tesla owners have invoked its powers since the introduction of the Model X. CEO Elon Musk pointed to Model X as one of the contributing reasons for building the upcoming Model Y compact SUV on its own platform as opposed to building it on top of the Model 3 chassis, as originally planned. Musk noted in the 2017 Annual Shareholders Meeting that Tesla continues to make manufacturing improvements aimed at increasing build quality and accelerate turnaround times for customer service center visits. The company continues to increase the number of fleet vehicles in the Tesla Mobile Repair Service program ahead of Model 3 production ramp.

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Luckily, Tesla had already provided an answer to the question through the company’s Emergency Response Guide (ERG) for Model X. The guide is akin to the emergency evacuation sheet that no one reads and found on the backseats of aircrafts.

According to page 24 of the ERG, every Model X has a mechanical latch override cable that’s purpose-built for manual release of the Falcon Wing door from its latches. A pull cable is located just behind the speaker cover in the front lower corner of each Falcon Wing Door. When looking directly at the speaker cover, Tesla’s guide indicates that there’s a lip in the upper rear corner of the cover. Removing the cover will expose the speaker itself and an adjacent thin metal wire. A firm tug on the metal wire towards the front of the vehicle will unlatch the door.

YouTuber Xiaomage documented the process of popping off the rear speaker cover and showing how one can manually open the Model X Falcon Wing door. However, the YouTuber notes that the door can be difficult to manually open because of its weight. Translated from Mandarin using YouTube subtitles, Xioamage notes “as a man, it is even difficult for me to push it away, let alone women.” Gender bias aside, it is clear from the video that the dual-hinged door is dead weight and requires some strength to open manually. Xioamage makes the recommendation that owners should attempt the process as a way to prepare for an actual emergency.

ALSO SEE: [Video] Tesla Model X Falcon Wing door teardown

Walking through a process just one time in advance can be enough to save a life when a real emergency strikes. For families with small children, it would also be a worthwhile exercise to determine a vehicle escape outside of a manually opened Falcon Wing door.

The video below documents the entire process for escaping from the Model X second row seating area.

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The video shows Andrew Suggs VP of European Collision Repair (ECR) in Sandy Springs, Georgia, giving a rare inside look at a Model X’s dual-hinged door that has gone through a partial teardown. Tesla certified auto body repair shops must undergo a three week long self paid training session (approx. $2,000 per technician) at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. An entire week is dedicated towards learning about the intricacies with working on the Falcon Wing doors, says Suggs.

Before beginning the dent repair, Suggs reveals where sensors are located on the doors, using another Model X that was also in for repair. There are ultrasonic sensors along the bottom edge of each door but the real secret is found in the middle of the door. There are “three little pods” — sonar sensors that control how much the door hinges in the middle as it opens. They tell the central computer how far the door can extend away from the body of the car without encountering an obstacle.

Unlike traditional swing-open type gull wing doors typically found on sports car exotics, Tesla began considering the use a dual-hinged design that allows the Falcon Wing door to articulate upward before moving outward. That ability is made possible by an array of electronic sensors that’s capable of detecting nearby objects.

Here’s a rare inside look at the mechanics behind the Model X Falcon Wing doors, courtesy of Like Tesla.

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Readers of Auto Bild from over 20 countries across Europe and its sister publications elevated the Tesla Model X to the top spot for its ‘futuristic cabin’ and unique Falcon Wing doors, beating out the Jaguar F-Pace and new Skoda Kodiaq.

“The electric SUV rewrites the rulebook in every way, with a futuristic cabin, clever ‘Falcon Wing’ doors and, most importantly, the astonishing electric powertrain capable of powering it from 0-62mph in a mere 3.2 seconds in P100D form. Despite this, it still manages to seat six and tow up to 2.3 tonnes.

While the small crossover sector is relatively new, the more traditional large SUV market is still thriving. Innovative upstarts Tesla managed to secure the overall gong for its new Model X, beating out the Jaguar F-Pace and new Skoda Kodiaq.”, writes AutoExpress sister publication to Auto Bild.

Tesla was quick to update its blog with news of the new crowning.

“Today, we are truly honored to announce that Model X has been awarded the Golden Steering Wheel (Das Goldene Lenkrad), one of the most prestigious automotive awards in the world. Candidates for this award are nominated by hundreds of thousands across Europe for excellence across six categories. The Golden Steering Wheel jury, composed of professional race car drivers, accomplished technicians, editors, designers, and digital and connectivity experts, then spent three days judging Model X.”

Though the Model X was plagued with early production over the complexity of electronically dual-hinged Falcon Wing doors and self-presenting front doors, Tesla has been able to address the majority of the issues through a series of Model X specific software updates.

As outlined by Tesla, below is a list of how the company was able to catapult the Model X into its award-winning position in just a short six months.

Falcon Wing Doors

• 2x improvement in door sensor object detection
• 25% improvement in opening/closing speed
• Dynamic profile adjustment to indoor mode when roof sensor detects a low ceiling
• 83% reduction in customer-reported issues with door opening/closing

Powered front doors and remote keyless entry

• Refined keyfob detection for smart automatic front door behavior as you approach, enter, or leave the car
• 8x improvement in keyfob battery life; automated alert from the car if the battery gets low
• Several improvements to power front door movement and latching system, leading to 51% reduction in door issues and improved performance on hills
• Wind noise customer-reported issues reduced by 22% with a combination of hardware modifications and fit/finish improvements

Interior Temperature Management

• Introduced Cabin Overheat Protection by managing the maximum interior temperature of Model X through software
• Improved HVAC performance by increasing maximum fan speed with an over-the-air software update

Second row seats

• Multiple over-the-air updates have enhanced seat motion, obstacle detection, pitch calibration, and usability
• Software enhancements have added intelligent behaviors between seats, adjusting spacing differently, for example, depending on which rows are occupied

Infotainment System

• Touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity improvements via over-the-air software update
• Largest user interface overhaul since the launch of Model S in over-the-air Software 8.0 rollout

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The Model S has had an up and down relationship with Consumer Reports. Having once given the Model S P85D a near perfect score after it exceeded the maximum allowable point scoring system in several performance categories, the organization would later not recommend the Model S in its annual reliability survey citing a worse-than-average overall problem rate as reported by owners of the high priced electric sedan. The most recent 2016 reliability survey now has the Model S fairing better in quality and reliability than previously ranked. “Tesla’s Model S has improved to average reliability, which now makes the electric car one of our recommended models.”, outlines Consumer Reports in its 2016 Car Reliability Survey.

Tesla’s technology-heavy Model X SUV on the other hand has been dumped into the reporting organization’s 10 least reliable vehicles category, mainly due to the vehicle’s flashy Falcon Wing Doors. “Model X SUV has been plagued with malfunctions, including its complex Falcon-wing doors.”, says Consumer Reports. “The Model X launched with abundant problems, including frequent malfunctions of the falcon-wing doors, water leaks, and infotainment and climate-control system problems,”

The Model X Falcon Wing doors have come under criticism by owners over the unpredictable nature of the dual-hinged electronically actuated doors. Though Tesla has continued to make substantial improvements in the safety and reliability of the complex doors through several Model X-specific over-the-air software updates, some owners continue to express the dangers of relying on sensor-laden doors for safety, drawing parallels to it being a dangerous vegetable chopper.

Complaints by unsatisfied owners weighed heavily on Consumer Reports low ranking for Tesla’s first-entry into the SUV crossover market. “The electric-powered Model X is more showy than practical. It features rear doors that open up and out of the way, giving easy access to rear seats. But those massive doors take their time to open and close. The huge windshield extends up and over the front-seat occupants, making the cabin feel airy and futuristic. Buyers can opt for five-, six-, or seven-passenger seating configurations, but unlike every other SUV, the second row doesn’t fold, which compromises utility.”

What do you think of the newest Reliability Survey ranking Buick in the top spot and well above Tesla? Sound off in the comments below.

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Operation of the Model X Falcon Wing doors will soon get quicker after Tesla chief Elon Musk announced that Version 8.0 will see a worldwide rollout this week to Model X owners. This includes updates to address speed of operation for its flashy dual-hinged door.

The recent Version 8.0 over-the-air rollout that went primarily to Model S owners put a heavy spotlight on Autopilot’s new ability to see two cars ahead amongst a host of user experience improvements, but in the shadows are notable Model X specific updates aimed at improving the vehicle’s self-presenting front door and Falcon Wing door.

@MacTechGenius Going out this week for X and outside North America

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 2, 2016

According to notes published on the company’s website for Version 8.0, Model X doors will receive the following update:

• Improved Auto Front Door functionality (Model X only)
• Falcon Wing doors open and close more quickly (Model X only)

Tesla has been incrementally improving the safety and reliability of its high-tech doors through firmware upgrades, and it would appear that the latest Version 8.0 update is aimed at curbing owner complaints over slow opening and closing Falcon Wing doors. Model X owners across forums and social media have vocalized concerns that unreliability combined with slow operating Falcon Wing doors make it no better than traditional minivan doors.

Check out the following video from YouTube channel MEtv Product Reviews who set up a grudge match between the Tesla’s Model X Falcon Wing door versus a Kia Sedona minivan’s sliding door. Note: this is based on previous Version 7.1 so it’ll be interesting to see how much quicker the Falcon Wing doors will be in 8.0.

Wishful thinking has us saying that we’ll eventually get a Model X ‘Holiday Light Show’ easter egg. Right?

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According to a report from Reuters, a filing made by Tesla and Hoerbiger on August 18 indicate that both companies have delayed filing for a dismissal of the suit to a date prior to October 13. Terms for the settlement have not been disclosed by either party.

The lawsuit filed by Tesla earlier in the year at the US District Court of Northern California accused Hoerbiger of causing delays in Model X production after the supplier could not come up with a suitable design for its flashy vertically raising Falcon Wing doors between February 2014 through May 2015. According to the suit, none of the Falcon Wing door prototypes submitted by Hoerbiger met Tesla’s engineering standards and would leak oil, sag, and produce excessive heat that caused them to malfunction.

A Tesla spokesperson commented on the suit claiming “We were forced to file this lawsuit after Hoerbiger decided to ignore their contracts with us and instead demanded a large sum of money to which they are not entitled”. The Swiss parts supplier countered by stating it was owed a balance pursuant to its contract with Tesla.

Following the failure of the hydraulic prototypes, Tesla hired a new supplier and redesigned the complex dual-hinged Falcon Wing doors with its own electro-mechanical system. The flashy yet often finicky doors, which the company continues to improve on through a series of over-the-air software updates, are one of the many engineering feats that has led CEO Elon Musk to call Model X “the best car ever”. “I’m not sure anyone will make a car like this again”.

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The vehicle’s electronically actuated self-presenting front doors are designed in a way that the outer edge of the door is supposed to align with the front edge of the Falcon Wing door, along the B-pillar. However, some Model X owners have complained about unsightly misalignment of doors leading to an overall perception of poor quality. Take note of  the misaligned doors and door handles in the following photo.

Despite being an eye sore when doors are misaligned, we haven’t known of any cases where the Model X doors will impact one another, until now. Mel describes his experience with the doors in his YouTube video. “I’m on my driveway, and the driveway has a little bit of a slope. And the back [Falcon Wing door] wasn’t all the way closed. For some reason it stopped just before it was closed completely which happens a fair bit”, says Mel. He then describes having the front doors also open, but when he attempted to close it, he noticed that it came into direct contact with the partially opened Falcon Wing door. “I’ve never seen this before. If I had slammed the front door, this could have been a serious problem”.

Check out Talking Tesla’s video to see the problem in action. Drop us a comment below if you too have experienced this type of issue on your Model X.

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