How it’s possible someone accidentally drove off in the wrong Tesla

Driving away in someone else’s car is generally only possible with a key. But Tesla is different. In Canada, a man accidentally got into the wrong Model 3 and drove it for an hour and a half with no problems. How is that possible?

Rajesh Randev from Vancouver went back to his Model 3 last week. The car was parked next to another Model 3 of almost the same specification. Randev used the app on his phone to open the door and drove off.

Man accidentally drove away in the wrong Tesla

It was only after a short drive that he realized something was wrong, he told Global News’ website. The window of the car he was driving had a crack. Randev called his wife to see if she had caused the damage.

About five to 10 minutes later, he received a text message from someone: “Rajesh, maybe you drive a Tesla?” The person had found Randev’s phone number on a printed document in the car, which was still in the parking lot.

Both owners could laugh about that

It wasn’t until Randev pulled aside the Model 3 he was driving that he realized the alloy wheels were different. However, he could just get back in, drive off and pick up his kids from school.

Randev then arranged a car swap with the other Tesla driver. “We both laughed about it, but we called the police. There was nothing they could do for us because nothing actually happened.”

Tesla doesn’t answer anything, company mailbox is full

“I have no idea how I could get into someone else’s Model 3 and drive it for an hour and a half,” he said. Because the Tesla app should only give an owner access to his own car.

Randev reported the matter to Tesla with attached video evidence, but kept getting the emails bounced back. “I sent the emails to Tesla’s business address in North America, but I keep getting a message that the inbox is full.”