Chinese Drivers Use Fake Heads to Bypass Tesla Autopilot Safety
Original: Chinese Drivers Are Using Tiny Plastic Heads to Fool Tesla’s Autopilot Safeguards
Why This Matters
Highlights critical safety vulnerabilities in Tesla's driver monitoring systems
Chinese Tesla drivers are buying $30 plastic celebrity figurines to trick the car's driver monitoring camera. The tiny heads, including Dwayne Johnson replicas, allow drivers to look away from road during autopilot mode without triggering safety warnings.
Chinese ecommerce platforms sell miniature celebrity heads for $10-40 that bypass Tesla's driver attention monitoring. The figurines, positioned on mirrors or windshields, block the interior camera from detecting inattentive drivers. One Model 3 owner reported using a fake head for 250 miles during a road trip, allowing 30-minute periods without safety interventions. Tesla's Full Self-Driving isn't available in China, but basic autopilot features require driver attention monitoring. When the system detects distraction, it warns drivers and can disable autopilot. The cottage industry includes various celebrity replicas and DIY solutions sold on Taobao, Xianyu, and Douyin platforms.