Incredible footage from New Zealand shows the moment a carjacker fails to break into a Tesla, proving the popular electric vehicle’s “tricky steering” makes it a crime-proof solution.
According to footage posted by Kiwi EV Adventures, a large man wearing a balaclava tried to get into a car while it was stuck in traffic.
A man is seen jumping out of the driver’s seat of a white Nissan while both vehicles are stopped in traffic.
He then drives around the driver’s side of the Tesla as the dashcam switches between rear and side view angles.
The man, dressed as a construction worker, repeatedly bangs on the car and makes aggressive gestures at the driver as he fumbles unsuccessfully to open the door, the retractable handle of which reveals little more than a smooth surface.
The brief but terrifying encounter lasted just 25 seconds before the Tesla driver fled.
“Kiwi EV Adventures,” an account run by independent motoring journalist Gavin Shoebridge, posted the footage to Facebook on Wednesday morning, writing: “This hangar thief tried but failed to rob a Tesla car in New Zealand last night.”
“His sausage fingers were unable to grip the retracted door handle,” Mr Shoebridge continued.
“This isn’t the first time that clever steering wheel has prevented a crime. Well done, Tesla.”
Tesla has long been praised for its high-tech security features.
“Sentry Mode” uses the front, rear and side cameras and other sensors to scan your surroundings for potential threats.
Additionally, Teslas come equipped with a number of other features that can severely impede access to the vehicle, such as door handles that extend and then retract if not used within a minute.
However, Tesla’s impenetrability raises some problems.
Business Insider Recently, it was reported that a US TikTok user was trapped inside his Tesla for 40 minutes after the temperature inside the car rose to 46 degrees during a software update.
In a separate incident, a 20-month-old baby girl was reportedly trapped inside a Tesla Model Y after the battery suddenly died during scorching Arizona heat.
When firefighters arrived on the scene to rescue the toddler, he reportedly told the toddler’s grandmother, “Wow, it’s a Tesla. I can’t drive a car like that.”
Firefighters used an axe to break the window and get the girl to safety.
On Reddit, where the New Zealand video was also published, users said Teslas were a prime target for would-be carjackers.
“Stealing a car that has GPS tracking, records from 8 cameras and allows the owner to park it via an app on their phone is extremely stupid,” one person wrote.
Another added: “It’s nearly impossible to break into Tesla through traditional methods.”
“The windows are all laminated glass and are locked while driving. It would take a sledgehammer and a few minutes to get inside.”
“Not just Teslas, but a lot of luxury cars.”
