Missing Tesla Model Y Telematics Unit in Bergen Crash Prompts Case Review

On May 13, 2023, a Tesla Model Y operating as a taxi lost control in Torgallmenningen Square in Bergen, Norway, crashing through an outdoor dining area of a bar, the base of a monument, and a convenience store. No fatalities were reported. The driver denied driving under the influence, claiming the vehicle had malfunctioned. Data from the Tesla Event Data Recorder (EDR) showed the accelerator pedal was fully depressed throughout the incident, though six seconds of data were missing. Footage from the dashcam, however, indicated that the brake lights had illuminated at one point. Some experts have questioned the official interpretation based solely on EDR data. In December 2024, Bergen police dropped criminal charges against the driver, and the court acquitted him. Recent investigations revealed that a critical component of the vehicle—the onboard telematics control unit (TCU), which stores and transmits vehicle operational data and could contain crucial information related to the crash—has gone missing. It remains unclear when or by whom the unit was removed. The driver’s defense attorney has called for a thorough and independent investigation. Police have stated they will re-examine the case.