Tesla rolled out a 'drive away' feature it hopes ‘you never need’

One Tesla employee is calling it “a feature we hope you never need.” Tesla on Thursday rolled out an over-the-air software update called “Emergency Drive Away” that would allow the vehicle to quickly shift into drive while plugged into a Supercharging station.

Typically, a Tesla does not shift out of park if a cable is detected.

The feature comes two months after a shooting near an In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho, left three people dead.

One of the victims, Dale Schultz, was inside a Tesla with his wife at a charging station at the time of the shooting, NBC-affiliate KTVB reported.

Tesla said in an X post that the feature is for emergencies only. “Use of this feature will damage your vehicle and the Supercharger,” the post said. “Deliberate misuse will invoke additional penalties.” A video demonstration posted on X showed how the Tesla breaks off from the charging handle after a driver shifts into drive and presses an “Activate” button at the bottom of an alert message.

Max de Zegher, the senior director of charging in North America, said in an X post that it’s a feature “we hope you never need.” “We select Supercharger locations with safety in mind and relocate sites deemed unsafe.

Our goal is that you always feel safe getting out to unplug,” he wrote. “We went back and forth on this for years, but believe offering it is the right call.

Don’t abuse it, so we don’t have to restrict it.” Tesla didn’t say what the penalties are if a driver were to use misuse the feature.

A Tesla spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.