Tesla seeks to inspect Model S that ruptured after collision

Electric-car maker Tesla Motors says it wants to study the remnants of a stolen Model S sedan that split in half and burned after a high-speed chase and collision in Los Angeles.

The company led by Elon Musk is working with Los Angeles police and fire investigators on the incident that began early on July 4th, when an unidentified man stole the Tesla and led police on a high-speed chase.

He later collided with several vehicles in West Hollywood and split the car into two parts when he crashed into a lampost, triggering a battery fire, according to police reports. He was injured in the incident and was taken into custody.

"We've asked to take a look at the vehicle as soon as that's possible," Simon Sproule, a company spokesman, said. "There aren't so many S's involved in major crashes, certainly not quite like this one, so we absolutely want to have a look to understand what happened."

The Palo Alto company's Model S, pictured, priced from $71,000 (€52,000), has a five-star rating for crashworthiness, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's highest designation. Tesla added a titanium plate in March to further strengthen the casing that protects its lithium-ion battery after the administration reviewed crashes that triggered Model S fires.

Tesla shares were little changed at $229.25 in New York on July 3rd. They have risen 52 per cent this year. – (Bloomberg )