Monday afternoon’s holiday rush in downtown San Sebastián took an unexpected turn when a high-tech vehicle became a temporary roadblock. Shoppers and commuters utilizing the Buen Pastor parking garage found themselves caught in a localized gridlock on December 22, all because a single Tesla lost its digital tether. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing pains associated with the transition to software-dependent transportation.
A Digital Deadlock in the City Center
The chaos began during the peak of the Christmas shopping season. The Buen Pastor garage, located near some of Donostia’s most popular commercial districts, was at near-capacity when a Tesla Model S with Dutch license plates came to a complete halt in one of the facility’s main thoroughfares. This wasn’t a mechanical breakdown in the traditional sense; instead, the sophisticated vehicle suffered a total connectivity failure. After losing its Wi-Fi signal in the subterranean levels of the garage, the car became unresponsive, leaving the driver unable to move it or even restart the system for several agonizing minutes.
The timing could not have been worse. With the central lanes blocked, dozens of drivers were left stranded. Some tried to navigate out of the mess by reversing through narrow corridors, while others simply gave up, abandoned their vehicles, and headed toward the exit on foot to wait out the technical glitch. The backup quickly spilled out onto the streets, causing the entrance on Fuenterrabia Street to collapse under the weight of the surrounding traffic.
The Vulnerability of Connected Cars
While the problem was eventually resolved once the Tesla regained its connection, the event highlighted the unique frustrations of modern car ownership. For several minutes, one of the most advanced vehicles on the market was effectively “bricked” by a lack of internet access, a scenario that would be impossible for a traditional internal combustion engine. It took a significant amount of time before the Model S could resume its journey, finally clearing the way for the frustrated holiday crowds to resume their shopping or head home.
Tesla Doubles Down on Lifestyle Retail
Despite these technical hiccups, the American automaker is aggressively expanding its presence in the region. Even as the incident in San Sebastián was unfolding, work continued on Tesla’s latest venture in the Marineda City shopping center. The brand is moving into a prime spot on Level 0, taking over the space formerly occupied by Multiópticas, situated right across from Milbby and adjacent to the José Luis jewelry store.
This new location represents more than just a showroom for electric vehicles. Tesla is increasingly positioning itself as a lifestyle brand, and the Marineda City outlet is designed to reflect that. Visitors will be able to browse a wide variety of merchandise that goes far beyond the cars themselves. The inventory is expected to include everything from branded apparel for men, women, and children to practical accessories like car sunshades and specialized pet protectors. For the more enthusiasts-driven crowd, the store will even stock robotic action figures, high-end luggage, and scale replicas of the company’s famous Cybertruck.
