Accidentally driving off someone else's car is not an everyday occurrence. However, this is exactly what happened to Rajesh Randev.
Tesla Owner Mistakenly Drives Off With a Wrong Car
As per the Washington Post, a weird malfunction has allowed Tesla owners to operate someone else's Tesla. This was done through the bespoke app of the electric vehicle firm.
Futurism reports that Rajesh Randev, who owns a Tesla Model 3, walked to a nearly identical car without knowing that the electric vehicle actually wasn't his. Randev used the bespoke app to open the stranger's vehicle. He then drove it off before he realized that the car he was using did not belong to him.
After driving the stranger's car for around 15 minutes, Randev realized that something was off. He noticed that the windshield had a crack, even if the crack wasn't there before, and that his phone charger was missing from its usual spot.
When he came to this realization, Randev's phone then buzzed. He received a message from a stranger's number.
The unknown sender asked Randev if he drives a Tesla, to which Randev affirmatively responded. The unknown sender then responded, saying that Randev may be driving the wrong car.
As per Gizmodo, Randev stopped the car and went out to check it. He then confirmed that the wheels were different from his own Model 3. Randev then talked to the car's original owner who agreed to have Randev take it back after fetching his children from school.
Not surprisingly, the car swap left Randev feeling wigged. He says that the technology is so expensive. He had to spend over $70,000 to get the car, and yet his family does not feel safe at the moment.
The other car reportedly belonged to Mahmoud Esaeyh, who allowed his brother to use it while he was home. The brother was able to enter Randev's car using Esaeyh's key card. When he entered the vehicle, he realized that the car was not the right one.
Tesla Malfunction
After this incident that happened on March 7, Randev tried reaching out to Tesla to know how the bespoke app connected to his car enabled him to operate someone else's car. However, his emails simply bounced back and remained unanswered.
Tesla's bespoke phone key app enables users to open their cars and operate them when their phone is nearby. However, the app should link to the specific owner's car and not someone else's.
Gizmodo notes that some skeptics think that the Tesla of Mahmood may have already been opened and turned on. However, the Model 3 is equipped with a system that locks the vehicle's doors and prevents anyone from operating the car when the owner moves away from it.
CEO Elon Musk dissolved the PR department years ago. Hence, the company has not catered to media inquiries regarding the issue. However, Tesla has an online mailbox where users may report vulnerabilities. It also has a bug bounty program for those who spot and report issues pertaining to security.
Both Tesla owners plan to keep using their own Teslas due to their gas-saving features. However, the incident has made them quite irked. Esaeyh said that he cannot dispose of the car due to the unsafe feeling. He says that it does scare him, as something could happen again.
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