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Lanon Wee

Tesla Reveals Configuration Letting Chosen Drivers Use Autopilot, FSD Without User Intervention

Typically, when a Tesla driver is employing Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (or their versions), a visual emblem appears on the car's touchscreen to encourage the driver to intermittently place pressure on the steering wheel. A security analyst has come across a hidden setting in Tesla automobiles that the firm can turn on to get rid of these "reminders." @GreentheOnly, a security researcher, has discovered a secret setting in Tesla vehicles that can be enabled by the company that enables the use of Tesla's advanced driver assistance systems, such as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, without the need for the driver to keep their hands on the wheel for extended periods. This feature has been given the nickname "Elon Mode" by the researcher, though it is not the official name used by the company. Currently, Tesla does not provide a self-driving vehicle, although CEO Elon Musk promised to do so since at least 2016 and said that one could be able to do a demo drive across the US autonomously by the end of 2017. Drivers are still required to stay alert and prepared to take over the wheel at any time while using Autopilot or FSD. The "nag" - a visual symbol blinking on the car's touch screen prompting drivers to take hold of the wheel at regular intervals - is usually present. If the driver fails to do so, a beep is generated, and in some cases the car temporarily halts Autopilot for up to several weeks. Musk said in December 2019 that he would remove the "nag" for certain Tesla owners in January; however, that didn't happen. In April 2023, he tweeted that the nags were being gradually reduced as safety improves. The security researcher, who asked to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns and is known to both Tesla and CNBC, is an owner of a Tesla Model X and is a long-time tester of its features.He earned tens of thousands of dollars for successfully filing bug bounties for Tesla. It is impossible to know how many cars have "Elon Mode" enabled today, unless one works at Tesla or has access to its relevant databases. In February, Tesla conducted a voluntary recall in the US for 362,758 of its vehicles, warning that its FSD Beta system might cause crashes. This was after they sent out an OTA software update to tackle the problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla has reported 21 incidents to the agency that resulted in at least one fatality and where their driver assistance systems were used within 30 seconds of the crash. Tesla did not answer a request for comment.

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