Feds Adjust Rules After Tesla Touts Record-Setting Safety Rating

A U.S. automotive safety agency adjusted its guidelines on how manufacturers may reference safety ratings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Wednesday that companies may no longer tout safety ratings with decimal points or ratings above five stars. The policy change comes three months after electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors bragged of an all-time high 5.4-star safety rating for its Model S sedan.

"Our 5-Star Safety Ratings Program serves as one of the most trusted and reliable resources to help the driving public select vehicles based on unbiased safety ratings," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said in a statement. Read more...