Electric Jaguar driver thought he would die or ‘kill an innocent person’ after car ‘went rogue’ at 100 mph

An electric car driver whose £80,000 Jaguar I-Pace “went rogue” on the M62 has told how he feared he would “kill an innocent person” as he swerved through traffic at speeds of up to 100mph.

According to Nathan Owen, a 31-year-old electric car driver from Bolton, Greater Manchester, the incident occurred as he was overtaking another vehicle on his way home from work as a crisis support worker. The car suddenly accelerated, displaying a battery malfunction warning on the dashboard. Despite repeatedly pressing the brakes, they failed to respond, prompting Mr. Owen to call emergency services.

A major police operation ensued, with multiple police vehicles attempting to escort and stop the malfunctioning Jaguar. Mr. Owen expressed his fear of causing harm as he unintentionally collided with police cars while struggling to control his vehicle. He likened the experience to the excitement and chaos of the Grand Theft Auto video game.

Remarkably, Mr. Owen's vehicle eventually came to a halt when it ran out of power, allowing him to escape unharmed. He revealed a similar incident occurring in December, where the car reached speeds of 120mph, leading him to contact the police. Despite Jaguar's reassurances after inspecting the vehicle, Mr. Owen remains wary, stating he will never drive a Jaguar or an electric car again.

Jaguar Land Rover responded to the incident, emphasizing their commitment to investigating the matter urgently to ensure the safety of their clients and vehicles. They stated that the cause of the malfunction is yet to be determined.