Tesla Motors Inc., the electric-car maker being reviewed by U.S. regulators over battery-related fires, said the safety rating for its Model S sedan is reaffirmed for the 2014 model year. The flagship vehicle from the Palo Alto, California-based company, with a $70,000 base price, retains a 5-star rating for crashworthiness, the highest designation given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency opened a review of the car last month after fires in Tennessee and Washington state occurred when drivers struck metal debris. “People that really want a Model S have researched it and know it’s a very safe car,” said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst for Edmunds.com, a vehicle pricing and data service in Santa Monica, California. “Those same buyers are also likely to dismiss concerns about the battery.” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-23/tesla-model-s-keeps-nhtsa-5-star-rating-amid-u-s-safety-review.html