Daimler Accused Of Wrecking Rented Tesla Model X During Tear-Down

Daimler rented a privately-owned Model X and then subjected it to a barrage of punishing tests and tear-downs, apparently leaving it a ruin of what it used to be
Daimler Accused Of Wrecking Rented Tesla Model X During Tear-Down

Manufacturers always get hold of rival brands’ cars, with a view to taking them apart and learning their secrets. It’s a normal thing; manufacturers buy the car they want to dismember, and crack out the power tools. But in this case Mercedes has reportedly wrecked a rented Tesla Model X.

That’s right, they subjected a rented Model X to a full-scale tear-down. Rented for seven weeks through Sixt, who themselves had rented it from private owners Monika Kindlein and Manfred van Rinsum, Mercedes apparently returned the car in more or less totally wrecked condition.

Daimler Accused Of Wrecking Rented Tesla Model X During Tear-Down

The car’s tracker showed that it had been thrashed on two different race circuits – prohibited in the rental agreement – and has suffered huge damage throughout. An appraiser has set the damage value at €15,684, but the owners make it closer to €100,000.

The couple are said to be suing Daimler for €99,392.79, but don’t have the legal resources of the car-making giant and have resigned themselves to getting less than that.

Absolutely not a render. Nope.
Absolutely not a render. Nope.

Daimler, meanwhile, has refused to offer specific comment, calling the process ‘normal’ and saying that if a vehicle is damaged during their time with it, the insurance should cover it. Seems a bit cold, to us.

Source: Der Spiegel

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Comments

Jesse Mast (back to Scirocco)

They’re just jealous

12/05/2017 - 11:59 |
10 | 5
Hugh Jazz

That’s kinda like breaking someone’s Xbox and saying that their mom should pay it. WTF Mercedes

12/05/2017 - 12:03 |
139 | 0
idkwhatmynameshouldbe

In reply to by Hugh Jazz

Friend (Daimler): “Woaahhh dude is that an Xbox?”

You (Owners): “Yeah. Its really fun. You wanna play?”

Friend: “Sure!”

Breaks controller and console for no reason

You: “Dude, what the hell? Why’d you do that?!”

Friend: “Sorry. Well bye. Have fun paying for this.”

Daimler is basically that douche friend you have.

12/05/2017 - 13:29 |
83 | 2

[DELETED]

12/05/2017 - 14:11 |
6 | 13

Even better in India: For example, I break somebody’s wristwatch or laptop or tablet etc. and ask either their mom or dad to pay for it. But we learn our lessons here. They either scold and criticize us or even slap and beat us here. Damn its painful

12/06/2017 - 01:05 |
3 | 0
OctyVRS

working with in the Automotive industry tear downs are normal. But you should always purchase the thing they are stripping down. As with tear downs not everything comes apart easily and can get broken.

12/05/2017 - 12:16 |
25 | 0
FLixy Madfox

Its a multi billion dollar company…. Couldn’t they just like
Buy one?

12/05/2017 - 12:23 |
60 | 0

Well they dont like to be found out buying rivals cars, thats why they always go the unconventional route.
Why Porsche found Honda bought a GT3RS to copy the steering technology but they took it in a sporting manner

12/05/2017 - 13:51 |
15 | 0

Because they have better things to spend their money on….

12/06/2017 - 18:31 |
0 | 0
UnknownCat13

That must have been quite a ‘shock’

12/05/2017 - 12:34 |
23 | 3

k e k

12/05/2017 - 12:49 |
9 | 3
Alex Sadowski

Was this their tool of choice?

12/05/2017 - 12:40 |
85 | 0

A Tesla deserves one of them…

12/05/2017 - 18:48 |
9 | 3
Mason Smith 🇺🇸(Mustang Life)(Crowd Killer)

In reply to by Alex Sadowski

12/05/2017 - 19:04 |
11 | 1

Oh c*ck

12/06/2017 - 13:14 |
1 | 0
Just SniperBadBoy

Ladies and gents, we have hit a new level of low!

12/05/2017 - 12:54 |
8 | 1
Anonymous

“An appraiser has set the damage value at €15,684, but the owners make it closer to €100,000”
Sounds like someone wants a big payout from this

12/05/2017 - 13:19 |
10 | 1
Kei Cars Are My Jam

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That’s about the value of a model x so I’d say they probably just want to replace their wrecked car, I want to know what’s going on in the appraiser’s head to think only €15K?

12/05/2017 - 13:26 |
16 | 0
Cormac Okane

So was it Daimler or Mercedes?

12/05/2017 - 13:26 |
1 | 0

Daimler AG is the head concern of Mercedes. It was created with Chrysler in 1998, but was renamend to “Daimler AG” in 2007 when they sold Chrysler.

12/05/2017 - 14:11 |
3 | 0

Daimler is the parent entity, with Mercedes a wholly-owned brand within it, like Smart. :)

12/05/2017 - 14:14 |
1 | 0

It’s a bit like Alphabet and Google; Alphabet is the “mother firm” and Google is the entire brand, being “owned” by Alphabet. Just replace Alphabet by Daimler and Google by Mercedes.

12/05/2017 - 15:14 |
1 | 0
12/06/2017 - 13:35 |
0 | 0
5:19.55

A rentel on a race track? Clarkson said rentals were the fastest cars in the world right?

12/05/2017 - 14:38 |
6 | 0