Tesla Model X windshield gets hit by a full truck wheel – spectacular freak accident without injury

Have you ever wondered what would happen if a giant object would hit the Tesla Model X’s massive panoramic windshield?

We now have the answer.

The Model X’s “Big Sky” panoramic windshield is a signature feature of Tesla’s electric SUV due to it stretching all the way over the front seats and to the Falcon Wing doors.

The design offers an unparalleled obstruction-free view, but it also comes with other challenges, like requiring Tesla to develop a relatively complex sun-visor system.

It also hasn’t been clear how strong the windshield is since it has to extend much further than a regular windshield before it reaches the frame, but it has now been put to a serious test.

In Switzerland today, a truck driving on the highway lost 2 of its wheels and one of them bounced right on a Tesla Model X’s windshield.

Here are some images from the aftermath via 20min.ch:

The cantonal police of Graubünden confirmed that nobody was injured during the accident.

Electrek’s Take

That’s a hell of a freak accident that most likely gave the Model X driver a good scare.

It’s quite incredible that they didn’t get injured since wheel definitely broke through the windshield, but it looks like it was right between the two seats and it was strong enough not to fail completely.

As for the damage, we know from previous examples that the Model X windshield costs about $1,400 to replace, but it looks like the damage extends to the frame of the Falcon Wing doors in this case, which will undoubtedly make this a much bigger repair job.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if the vehicle is declared totaled, especially if the structure of the passenger compartment has been compromised.

Freak accident aside, we previously reported that Tesla Model X is the highest safety rated SUV according to NHTSA with 5-star rating in every safety category. You can watch the Tesla Model X crash tests videos here.

But even though the Model X is already fairly safe, maybe Tesla could eventually bring its new ‘Tesla Armor Glass’, which is used in the Tesla Semi and is supposedly able to withstand a thermonuclear explosion, to the SUV and its other vehicles.