Tesla Emergency Drive Away: Leave While Plugged In Oct 2026

Stuck at a Supercharger is no longer a hard software lock. On October 1, 2026, Tesla Charging announced Emergency Drive Away, covered by Electrek: drivers can shift into Drive while the cable is still connected.

How it works (as stated)

• Requires software 2026.38.3 (staged rollout)
• Tesla warns use will damage the vehicle and the Supercharger; short camera clips are shared with Tesla
• Intended for life-threatening emergencies only; deliberate misuse may bring “additional penalties”
• US Superchargers only “for now”; Model S/X built before 2021 unsupported

Previously a Tesla would not leave Park with a charge cable locked; owners had to unlock the port and wait for the latch. Emergency Drive Away removes that lockout rather than cleanly cutting power and releasing the cable—Tesla is explicit about the damage trade-off.

Why now

The feature lands about two months after the August 1 Twin Falls, Idaho shooting that killed three people, including a Tesla driver at the adjacent Supercharger. Tesla’s posts did not mention the incident; the timing is hard to ignore.

Rocks take

Dated safety OTA with clear US scope and hardware caveats—distinct from China Model 3 screen/V2L coverage. Source: Electrek citing Tesla Charging.

FAQ

Does it work in Canada? Tesla says US only for now.

Will Tesla pay for damage? Not stated; the UI warns damage is expected if you use the feature.