In Vancouver, Canada, Rajesh Randev, an immigration consultant and Tesla owner, found himself in a peculiar situation when he mistakenly drove away in the wrong Tesla on a typical day. Randev believed he was getting into his own car after unlocking it with his app, but he soon realized his mistake after noticing a crack on the windshield and the absence of his phone charger.
To Randev’s surprise, he received a message from a stranger within an hour who informed him that he was driving the wrong Tesla. Upon inspecting the car, Randev noticed that the wheels were different from his own, and he concluded that he had accidentally driven off with someone else’s car. Meanwhile, the other Tesla owner, Mahmoud Esaeyh, an Uber driver, also mistook Randev’s car for his own and drove off.
Esaeyh soon realized that something was amiss with the car as he found papers and medical records that did not belong to him, and the usual crack on the windshield was absent. Upon contacting Randev, they both discovered that Randev’s app had inadvertently unlocked Esaeyh’s car, leading to the mix-up.
Despite the confusion, both men remained patient and understanding throughout the ordeal, and Randev reported the incident to the police. However, the police could not provide him with a file number as no crime had been committed, but they advised him to contact them if anything else happened.
This incident highlights the need for better security measures to prevent unauthorized access to vehicles, as mistaking one Tesla for another can lead to potentially dangerous situations. Fortunately, both owners were able to resolve the issue without incident, but the situation could have quickly escalated.
Tesla vehicles have a few different ways to unlock the car. One way is through a traditional key fob that communicates with the car via radio frequency. Another way is through the Tesla mobile app, which allows owners to remotely access various features of their car, including locking and unlocking the doors.
When an owner wants to unlock the car using the app, the car’s computer system sends a signal to the car’s keyless entry system, which unlocks the doors. The app also allows owners to start the car remotely, adjust climate settings, and even summon the car to their location in certain situations.
It’s worth noting that Tesla takes security very seriously, and the mobile app is designed with multiple layers of security to prevent unauthorized access. The app requires users to log in with their Tesla account credentials and provides additional security measures like two-factor authentication to ensure that only the authorized user can control the car.
