The Britney Spears actress, singer and sister said in an Instagram video that has since been removed that her cats were run over by a Tesla they had never heard of. Teslas, like other electric cars, run quieter than vehicles with gas-powered engines.
“We’re lost now – I do not want to tell you how many cats – because they do not hear the cats Tesla (TSLA) crutch and unfortunate things are happening and it is really devastating and tragic for everyone involved, ‘she said in her Instagram post, according to several news reports that saved the video.
“Elon Musk, let’s find out,” she said. “You owe me some cats.”
Spears recommended that Teslas emit sounds that bother animals so they move out of the way. She suggested that this update would ensure that animals “are not caught off guard and that things do not end in a very tragic way.”
It appears that Teslas and other electric cars will have to do so from September 2020. The U.S. National Traffic Safety Administration now requires electric cars to emit noises of at least 43 decibels when traveling at speeds of less than 18.6 miles per hour. It’s about the amount of noise your dishwasher makes.
“This standard will help ensure that blind, visually impaired and other pedestrians can locate and recognize nearby hybrid and electric vehicles,” NHTSA said in its order.
Europe has similar requirements: From July 2019, all new models of electric and hybrid vehicles developed and sold in the European Union must be equipped with an acoustic sound system.
Spears later stepped back from her initial post in another Instagram post – which she also deleted. According to her, she “did not overpower any cats” and Tesla is “not to blame”, several news outlets reported. The actress also made it clear that “user error is indeed involved.”
Tesla did not immediately respond to CNN Business’ request for comment.