A man from Vancouver, Canada, Rajesh Randev, accidentally drove off with someone else’s Tesla Model 3 while rushing to pick up his kids from school. Randev thought he was driving his own Tesla Model 3, but it turned out that he had stolen someone else’s car that was identical to his own, and to make matters worse, Tesla’s app allowed him to open the car and drive away without any issues.
Mix-Up Discovered through Phone Call and Text Messages
Randev realized his mistake only when he received a text message from an unknown number asking if he was driving a Tesla. The message was from Mahmood, the owner of the Tesla that Randev had accidentally taken. After inspecting the car and confirming that it was not his, Randev talked to Mahmood and agreed to return the car after he picked up his kids from school.
No Harm Done and a Lesson Learned
Both men ended up laughing over the situation and informed the police. Randev tried to contact Tesla to understand how their app could have opened another person’s car, but he received no response. Nevertheless, the incident was a good reminder for Tesla owners to double-check that they are getting into the right car before driving off.
Tesla App Glitch
Tesla’s phone key app allows owners to unlock and start their cars when their phone is nearby. However, skeptics suggested that Mahmood’s Tesla was probably already unlocked and turned on when Randev entered it. Tesla’s Model 3 has a system that locks the doors and prevents anyone from driving the car after the owner moves away from the vehicle. It is unclear how Randev was able to drive away with Mahmood’s car using Tesla’s app.
This incident highlights the importance of double-checking car ownership before driving off. While the cause of the app glitch remains unknown, Tesla owners have to take extra precautions by verifying the car they are getting into before starting the engine.
