A Tesla owner in Pingtung City is facing costly repairs after a collision with a YouBike rider left his brand-new car damaged. The incident occurred on Hesheng Road, where the one-month-old Tesla was parked along the roadside. The cyclist struck the vehicle, dislodging the left rear wheel arch trim and leaving visible scratches, before fleeing the scene.
The car owner reported the accident to police, but the culprit has not yet been located. Because the public bike system does not carry property damage insurance, the Tesla owner may have to cover the repair costs personally. Although the zero-fault claim should not increase next year’s insurance premium, the owner remains concerned about potential impact on the car’s resale value.
The collision happened on the afternoon of October 21 during school dismissal hours. According to witnesses, the cyclist did not stop after hitting the parked car, leaving a black trim piece from the wheel arch to flutter in the wind. Upon returning to his vehicle, the Tesla owner discovered the damage and was visibly distressed.
Inspection revealed the wheel arch seam had cracked, the trim had come off, and the left rear door had noticeable scratches. Despite being only a month old, the new Tesla now requires repairs.
Auto paint specialist Xiao Jie explained that the bumper is made of plastic and can be repaired without affecting the car’s residual value. Local repair shops could perform partial repainting for a few thousand Taiwanese dollars, but an official Tesla service might require replacing the entire bumper, costing upwards of five figures.
The police are reviewing nearby surveillance footage to identify the cyclist, who is suspected to be a student. Meanwhile, the car owner has limited options for compensation due to the lack of property damage coverage in the YouBike system.
Members of the public suggested that notifying the car owner and including property damage insurance in public bike fees could prevent such incidents in the future. For now, the Tesla owner may have to cover the repair costs while authorities continue their search for the fleeing cyclist.
