The Korea Transportation Safety Authority announced on December 14 that it has developed a standard diagnostic inspection device for Tesla vehicles. This development follows the new electric vehicle standard diagnostic regulations issued by the California Air Resources Board in the United States, and Tesla has implemented a diagnostic function based on in-vehicle Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).
The Authority and Tesla agreed to jointly develop a new diagnostic system based on the international DTC standard, rather than Tesla’s proprietary diagnostic method. Tesla had previously relied on a notification-based inspection system. By converting the diagnostic method for Tesla vehicles to a universal standard, a new system has been established that makes it easier for Tesla vehicles to undergo inspections at general inspection sites. According to the Authority, this is the first time in the world that such an inspection system has been introduced.
Brian Boggs, Senior Director of Tesla Service Engineering (fourth from right), along with the development team and staff from the Advanced Inspection Strategy Division of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, recently collaborated to develop an inspection system and equipment applicable to Tesla vehicles. Provided by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority
The Authority expects that this new standard diagnostic system will expand the inspection infrastructure needed to detect and prevent electric vehicle fire risks at an early stage. As Tesla sales have recently increased in Korea, there is growing support for strengthening the safety management system. In particular, the Authority plans to gradually share inspection technology with the private sector so that Tesla vehicles can be more smoothly inspected and serviced at general inspection centers.
Meanwhile, the Authority has been distributing its self-developed KADIS diagnostic device since 2021 to raise the quality of private inspection centers to the level of the Authority’s own facilities. In cooperation with the Korea Automobile Inspection and Maintenance Association, the Authority has also provided dedicated Tesla diagnostic cables free of charge, increasing the number of diagnostic devices from 162 locations last year to 1,231 this year.
Among the 365,181 high-voltage electric vehicles inspected this year, early detection of BMS battery defects was achieved in 28 cases. This means that the potential for electric vehicle fires was proactively prevented. Jeong Yongshik, President of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, stated, "This collaborative development is a significant achievement that demonstrates our Authority’s technological prowess in the field of electric vehicle safety diagnostics on a global scale," adding, "We will continue to build a more robust safety management system based on inspections."
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