Tesla Owners in China Exploit Driver Monitoring System with Figurines
Tesla owners in China have reportedly discovered a novel way to bypass the electric vehicle maker's driver-monitoring system: using small plastic figurines and other visual tricks. This allows them to use Autopilot features without continuously keeping their eyes on the road.
According to a report by Wired, miniature plastic heads resembling celebrities, including actor Dwayne Johnson, are being sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms for between $10 and $40. These figurines are positioned near the rearview mirror or windshield to obstruct Tesla's in-cabin camera, making it appear as though an attentive driver is present.
The trend emerged after Tesla introduced stricter distracted-driver monitoring through the vehicle's cabin camera in China last year. Drivers who look away from the road for extended periods can receive warnings, have Autopilot disabled, or temporarily lose access to driver-assistance features.
One Tesla Model 3 owner told Wired that he used a figurine during a recent road trip and was able to drive for extended periods without triggering attention warnings. Sharing advice on a Chinese video platform, the driver said: "You should buy a toy head about the size of a ping pong ball." He added: "If it’s too small, the camera won’t be able to focus on the toy."
Other Workarounds: Photos, Blinking Cards, and Screens
The plastic heads are not the only workaround being used. The report says some Tesla owners place photographs in front of the camera, while others use lenticular cards that create the appearance of blinking eyes when viewed from different angles.
More advanced products have also appeared online. One device consists of a small display screen that plays a looping video of a person blinking and moving their head. A seller reportedly claimed the gadget had been tested on multiple Tesla models and could successfully fool the monitoring system.
The products remain a niche category, with most listings showing relatively limited sales volumes. However, they highlight ongoing attempts by some drivers to bypass safety features designed to ensure attention behind the wheel.
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system is not currently available in China. Drivers can access more limited driver-assistance functions such as cruise control, autosteer, and certain Autopilot features on approved roads.
Because the vehicles are not fully autonomous, Tesla requires drivers to remain attentive at all times. The company uses an in-cabin camera and other monitoring tools to detect distracted driving and issue alerts when necessary.
Attempts to bypass these safeguards are not unique to China. Tesla drivers in other markets have previously experimented with steering-wheel weights, sunglasses, and other methods to avoid triggering attention warnings.
The latest workarounds have sparked criticism on Chinese social media, where some users have compared them to devices designed to bypass seatbelt reminders. Critics argue that such products undermine safety measures intended to reduce distracted driving.
Tesla did not publicly comment on the products or whether it intends to take action against the sellers. The report notes that the company did not comment when asked.
The devices have also raised questions about how effective current driver-monitoring systems are and whether automakers need to implement stronger safeguards against the misuse of assisted-driving technology.
