Andrew J. Hawkins

These researchers seem to think so. This wasn’t a remote hack — they needed physical access to the car — but once they got in they were able to activate optional features you would otherwise have to pay extra for. But after parts and labor, I wonder if they ended up paying more $300 for the entire experiment.

Teslas, like most cars, aren’t supposed to work without someone in the front seat. But as YouTuber AI Addict proves, all you need is a stuffed animal, or even a dang balloon, to trick the Full Self-Driving system into thinking there’s someone behind the wheel. (Full disclosure: these guys did these tests at the behest of Dan O’Dowd, a rich software developer who’s made it his life’s mission to debunk Elon Musk’s automated driving claims.)

Toyota is planning on building it for Subaru, right after it makes its own mid-sized electric SUV, which will be called bZ5X, according to Automotive News. Subaru’s only current EV, the compact Solterra SUV, was also made by Toyota, which owns a 20 percent stake in the Japanese automaker. Initial sales were halted for months because the wheels could fall off.