Tesla plant in Austin is EVACUATED after 'hazardous' gas leak

Employee rushed to hospital after exposure to hazardous gas

No serious injuries were reported and all employees were evacuated safely

A Tesla plant in Austin was evacuated on Tuesday after a "hazardous" gas leak, the company has confirmed. An employee was rushed to the hospital after exposure to the gas, but no serious injuries were reported. All employees were evacuated safely. The leak was caused by a "chemical reaction" in a battery pack, the company said. Tesla is investigating the incident and has not yet said when the plant will reopen.

The incident occurred at Tesla's Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, which produces the company's Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. The plant has been in operation since 2020 and employs over 10,000 people.

The gas leak is the latest in a series of incidents at Tesla factories. In 2021, a fire broke out at a Tesla factory in Lathrop, California, causing millions of dollars in damage. In 2022, a worker at a Tesla factory in Fremont, California, was killed in a workplace accident.

Tesla has been under increasing scrutiny over its safety record in recent years. In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot driver assistance system after a series of crashes.

The company has also been criticized for its handling of workplace safety. In 2021, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cited Tesla for multiple safety violations at its Fremont factory.

Tesla has said that it is committed to safety and is taking steps to improve its safety record. The company has hired more safety staff and is investing in new safety technologies.