For as little as $30, Chinese Tesla owners can now have Dwayne Johnson "drive" their car — albeit in the form of a tiny plastic head positioned to fool the vehicle's safety camera. According to a report by WIRED, these figurines, available on Chinese ecommerce platforms like Taobao, Xianyu, and Douyin, are designed to block the in-cabin camera's view of the actual driver, tricking Tesla's driver-assistance system into believing an attentive person is behind the wheel.
The $10–$40 Workaround
The figurines, described as "tiny replicas" of Hollywood or Chinese celebrities, cost between $10 and $40 depending on sophistication, according to WIRED. They are sold openly on Chinese ecommerce sites and are often repurposed dolls or figurines. Tesla Model 3 owners in China have shared tips on video platforms about optimal placement — typically above the rearview mirror, on the windshield, or on the ceiling — to ensure the camera focuses on the fake head rather than the actual driver.
One anonymous Tesla Model 3 owner told WIRED that during a 400-mile road trip, he used a bald miniature head (resembling Dwayne Johnson) for about 250 miles on highway autopilot. Normally, Tesla's system would intervene when it detects distraction, but with the fake head in place, he claimed he could go 30 minutes without interruption. In a video he shared, the driver was seen snacking and filming while the fake head, suctioned to the rearview mirror, blocked the camera.
How Tesla's Monitoring Works
Tesla's most advanced driver-assistance system, Full Self-Driving (Supervised), is not yet available in China. Drivers in the country can only access basic cruise control, autosteering, and autopilot on some urban roads. Because these features are not fully autonomous, Tesla requires constant driver attention. The car uses a camera located above the windshield to monitor driver focus. If the system detects a driver not looking ahead for a few seconds, it issues an alert. Continued non-compliance can result in automatic shutdown of autopilot or a one-week ban from using driver-assistance features, WIRED reported.
Ecommerce Platforms and the Supply Chain
The gadgets are predominantly sold on Chinese platforms:
| Platform | Price Range | Notable Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Taobao | $10–$40 | Variety of celebrity heads |
| Xianyu | $10–$40 | Repurposed dolls and figurines |
| Douyin | $10–$40 | Tips from Tesla owners via video |
While the WIRED report does not provide aggregate trade volumes or cross-border data, the availability of these items on major Chinese consumer-to-consumer sites suggests a niche but growing market. The trend began in October, shortly after Tesla pushed a software update in China that activated distracted-driver monitoring via the in-cabin camera. Drivers quickly searched for workarounds, leading to the rise of these camera-tricking gadgets.
Implications for Tesla and Driver Safety
Tesla drivers in other markets, including the US, have long sought ways to bypass safety controls, such as wearing sunglasses to hinder eye tracking or using steering wheel weights. However, the Chinese approach — exploiting the camera with a physical object — represents a creative but dangerous escalation, according to WIRED. The miniature heads are carefully positioned to block only the driver's face, leaving the rest of the cabin visible, which may reduce suspicion during random checks.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges for automakers deploying driver-assistance systems in markets with varying regulatory and consumer behaviors. For Tesla, the solution may involve software upgrades that can distinguish between a real face and a plastic replica, though no such update has been announced.
What to Watch
Further viral videos and potential safety incidents could prompt Tesla to issue a software patch that improves camera recognition to detect fake heads. Meanwhile, regulators in China may scrutinize the sale of such gadgets on ecommerce platforms.
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