Tesla Rolls Out Emergency Drive Away Feature After Supercharger Shooting

Tesla has introduced a new safety feature called Emergency Drive Away, enabling drivers to move their vehicles even if the Supercharger is still connected, specifically for emergency situations. This development comes a couple of months after a driver was shot inside a Tesla taxi while charging at an In-N-Out Burger location in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Under normal circumstances, to shift from Park to Drive after charging, a Tesla owner must unlock the charge port using the vehicle's infotainment system, the mobile app, or by pressing a button on the charger handle. This procedure can be a critical impediment when a rapid departure is necessary. Tesla owners had called for a quick escape system following the shooting incident, prompting the automaker's response.

The company announced Emergency Drive Away on X, providing a short demonstration of its activation. If a driver shifts into Drive while the charger is still attached, the infotainment system will display a notice requiring activation of the feature to override the lock. A warning also appears, stating that driving with the cable connected will cause damage to both the car and the Supercharger station, explicitly advising, "Use only in an emergency." To engage the feature, drivers must hold the brake pedal and tap 'Activate' on the screen.

Access to this feature requires an upgrade to the latest software. It is currently functional only with Superchargers located in the US and is not supported on pre-2021 Model S and X vehicles. Tesla also stated on X that deliberate misuse "will invoke additional penalties," and clarified that physical and monetary damages for such misuse could amount to "up to $25k." It remains unclear whether Tesla intends to charge for activating the drive-away feature in genuine emergencies.

What to watch: Expansion of the feature to more regions and vehicle models.

Editor's note: Successfully captures the details of the feature and its context.