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IIHS finally ready to test Tesla Model 3

IIHS finally ready to test Tesla Model 3

Tesla's budget model has been noticeably absent from the IIHS rankings.

Coinciding with reports detailing the NHTSA's spat with Tesla over safety statements, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is finally ready to begin smashing Model 3 sedans to see how the EV stacks up against internal-combustion vehicles.

Responding to a CleanTechnica reporter's Twitter post questioning why the IIHS hasn't crash tested the "best selling car" in the US after it has been available on the market for two years, the IIHS said it is actually planning to assess the Model 3 starting next week.

The Model 3 and Tesla's other vehicles have already aced the government's crash tests. The IIHS performs a more extensive series of trials, however, that include small-overlap impacts that can be particularly deadly yet not directly addressed by the NHTSA's star ratings.

To earn the Top Safety Pick Plus award, the Model 3 must earn top marks in all six crash scenarios, an 'advanced' or 'superior' automatic braking system, and a 'good' headlight rating. Oddly, insufficient headlight performance appears to be the most common factor that has disqualified many other vehicles.

The IIHS has not mentioned how long it will take to complete the Model 3 tests and publish the results.