The system is optimized for EV Performance

Auburn Hills, Mich. (Jan. 9, 2024) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) announces the industry’s first complete sound system upgrade for Tesla. The system boasts 1200W RMS of efficient power and requires no custom vehicle modifications during installation.

“Alpine is proud to be the first aftermarket car audio manufacturer to provide a complete sound system solution that’s truly designed for the Tesla,” said Gregg Thomas, Director of National Sales for the Alpine Brand Division at Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “As the auto industry continues to trend towards EV vehicles, Alpine will continue to invest in premium solutions catered to the EV driver.”

The system will be available in six different applications designed to fit select Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

Optimized for EV Performance

Designed especially for the Tesla driver, this high-resolution sound system easily replaces the factory speakers in select Tesla models without any vehicle modifications, effectively elevating the performance of the sound system while maintaining the integrity of the interior and retaining all OEM functions.

At 1200W RMS (50W x 4, 100W x 6, 400W x 1) this system boasts an impressive sound upgrade that’s optimized for EV low voltage battery range (12V-16V).

The speakers were sourced from Alpine’s “Blue Series” premium line, an intentionally crafted speaker line made from an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber material with a powerful neodymium magnet and Alpine propriety HAMR surround to ensure efficient sound performance.

A 10” sealed subwoofer, stealth installed in the trunk, provides an exciting 400W RMS of bass performance, while a powerful 12-channel Digital Sound Processor (DSP) comes pre-tuned for the unique interior of the Telsa.

An ultra-efficient amplifier uses less than one mile of range per hour, even when played at full volume, ensuring the efficiency of the battery life.

Each model comes with a vehicle-specific harness that’s designed to easily integrate into the respective system. System offerings will include an 11-speaker upgrade package for the factory base audio systems in the 2018-2021 Tesla Model 3 (PSS-TSLA-213) and 2022-up Tesla Model 3 (PSS-TSLA-223).

For the Model 3 vehicles with the factory premium audio system, Alpine will offer a 13-speaker upgrade package (two additional speakers for the rear deck) for the 2018-2021 Tesla Model 3 (PSS-TSLA-213P) and 2022-up Tesla Model 3 (PSS-TSLA-223P).

Tesla Model Y systems will both feature 13-speaker upgrade packages for the 2020-2021 Tesla Model Y (PSS-TSLA-21Y) and 2022-2023 Tesla Model Y (PSS-TSLA-22Y).

The Complete Plug-and-Play Sound System Upgrade Kits for Tesla will be available in Spring 2024 at $2999.95 and can be purchased at Alpine Authorized retailers and Preferred Online Stores. Please check the store locator on www.alpine-usa.com for details. 

Shared Features:

• Complete Sound System Upgrade for Tesla
• Hi-Res Audio Certified
• Direct-fit, stealth installation
• Replaces factory speakers with no cutting or modification required
• Retains all OEM functions
• Hybrid carbon fiber speaker cone material
• Alpine H.A.M.R. Surround Technology
• Tuned specifically for Tesla interior
• Optimized for EV low voltage battery range (12V-16V)
• Ultra-efficient amplifier: Uses 1 Mile of Range Per Hour at Full Volume
• 11/13 Speakers (based on application)
• 10" Sealed subwoofer (400W RMS / 1200W Peak)
• 12-channel premium digital sound processor with built-in 12-channel amplifier (50W x 6, 25W x 4, 100W x 2 or 200W x 1 Bridged)
• Vehicle-specific harness (based on application)

Tesla© is a copyright of Tesla, Inc

Product information is based upon current information at the time of press but cannot be guaranteed. All designs, features, specifications, and delivery dates are subject to change without notice.

Auburn Hills, Mich. (May. 31, 2024) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) will attend the 2024 Electrify Expo event at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2.

Alpine will have a 20’ x 20’ booth in the Electrify Show-Off & Aftermarket Pavilion with a 2021 Tesla Model 3 demonstrating the precision sound performance of the industry’s first complete sound system upgrade designed to fit the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Each system includes an 11-speaker (or 13, for factory premium audio systems) upgrade designed to easily replace the front, rear, and center dash Tesla factory speakers with Hi-Resolution certified speakers from Alpine’s “Blue Series” speaker line. The package also includes a powerful 10” subwoofer and 12-Channel Premium Digital Sound Processor and ultra-efficient EV-optimized Amplifier that’s tuned for the unique cabin environment for the Tesla.

Members from Alpine’s sales and marketing staff will be available during the event to answer product questions and provide vehicle demonstrations. Long Beach-based Alpine Authorized Retailer, PCH Custom Audio, will also be on-site with Tesla systems available for purchase at special, event-only deals.

Electrify Expo is the #1 Electric Vehicle Festival in North America with a 1 million square foot outdoor festival that attracts over 30,000 attendees and pioneering brands in the electric mobility space.

TEZspex’s undercarriage protection for the overlanding adventurist and the road warrior, significantly improving underside vehicle protection and durability versus factory plastic underside skid plates.

 Torrance, California –July 23, 2024 TEZspex by RYDEEN, a leading provider of automotive upgrade solutions, has proudly unveiled its latest innovation – the Under Body Protection Skid Plates made from ArmorLiteTM, a space age fiberglass material, designed to provide the ultimate defense for Tesla Model 3 and Y, that lightweight and as strong as carbon fiber material, yet achieving high cost performance. This new Tesla accessory is currently shipping to TEZspex retailers nationwide.

 The original skid plate can be damaged by speed bumps, steep driveways, or road debris. TEZspex high-quality skid plates offer improved protection for your vehicle's motors and axles, increasing your safety on the road. It is scratch-resistant,wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant.

TEZspex skidplate is a direct replacement for Tesla PN 1499151-00-C. Newer models (2023+) may come with Tesla PN 1622740-00-B, which is compatible with this skidplate. It comes in two separate items: Under Body Protection Skid Plate (Front) for 2016-2024 Model 3/Y and Under Body Protection Skid Plate (Rear) for 2016-2024 Model 3/Y.

Unmatched Protection: TEZspex skid plate is engineered to fortify your Tesla's underbody against impact, debris, and unexpected road hazards made from ArmorLiteTM. Crafted with state-of-the-art materials, it offers unparalleled defense without compromising weight or performance.

Lightweight Durability: Experience the perfect blend of strength and lightweight design. ArmorLiteTM is as tough as metal yet as light as the original plastic skid plate, ensuring robust protection without burdening your vehicle.

Seamless Integration: Designed for a hassle-free installation, this skid plate seamlessly fits your Model 3 or Y. Enjoy enhanced protection without sacrificing your Tesla's aerodynamics or aesthetics.

Key Features:

• Innovative Material: Crafted with ArmorLiteTM, striking the ideal balance between strength, weight and flexibility, combining fiberglass and special resin materials with patented manufacturing processes.

• Rigorously Tested: Subjected to stringent tests, ensuring reliability and resilience under extreme conditions.

• Warranty-Friendly: Engineered to enhance your vehicle's protection without voiding its warranty.

Built to last: ArmorLite endures the most challenging conditions, providing peace of mind on every drive. Elevate your Tesla's defense and drive confidently with the ArmorLiteTM Skid Plate!

Whether using your standard Tesla as your daily driver, seeking extra protection for your lowered Tesla, or planning to take your lifted Tesla off-roading, this plate will provide peace of mind in all scenarios.

“We are excited to offer Tesla owners a solution that enhances their vehicle's protection without compromising on performance or design,” said Ruben Tores , national sales manager at TEZspex by RYDEEN “With the TEZspex Skid Plate, drivers are stress free knowing that their Tesla is equipped to handle the toughest road conditions.”

MODEL #: USP–16F (FRONT) MSRP:$280 each

                        USP–16 R (REAR) MSRP:$280 each

All installation hardware (screws) are original Tesla parts. No cutting, drilling, or other permanent modifications required!

For more information about TEZspex ArmorLiteTM Skid Plate and to place an order, please visit www.TEZspex.com or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For media inquiries, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TEZspex by RYDEEN

2701 Plaza del Amo #705, Torrance, California 90503

1-877-777-8811

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.tezspex.com (http://www.tezspex.com/)

Demo videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaG_JoIOHTc&t=7s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eZPZGPbUdM&t=1s

1-30-2017, Futurism -- Many can’t wait for the day they can just sit back and enjoy a car ride without the hassle of driving, and if Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk has anything to say about it, they won’t have to wait much longer. In a tweeted reply to a question about when Tesla’s enhanced Autopilot system would transition into truly self-driving technology, Musk asserted that cars with full self-driving capabilities are coming in the next three to six months.

Of course, Tesla has already made considerable improvements to its Autopilot software over the last couple of months, addressing the problems that lead to the several crash incidents it suffered last year.

According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of its investigation on the May 2016 fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S on Autopilot, these improvements on the software are effective and have already decreased Tesla’s car crash rate by 40 percent.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

TORRANCE, CA (10.07.2024) – Ready to celebrate the car culture and aftermarket returning by popular demand for 2024 at SEMA with Rydeen and TEZspex by RYDEEN!

Rydeen is excited to showcase its latest advanced vehicle technology products at SEMA 2024, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and advancement in the automotive industry for the first time.

Since Tesla has become so popular, the phenomenon of the Tesla industry has emerged, in which there is no limit to perfection: available accessories can transform a basic model into a sports one, improving the interior, technology, navigation, appearance, comfort and safety of driving, and also standing out from the crowd. What sets RYDEEN's TESLA accessories apart is their advanced technology, sleek design, and superior quality, making them the perfect choice for TESLA owners who want to personalize and enhance their vehicles.

Rydeen Mobile Electronics announced today the following 19 installed best-sale upgraded accessories for Tesla model Y & 3 from the new Line of products:

- POWER FRUNK OPENER/CLOSER with remote operation capability with the original TESLA mobile app.

- POWER TRUNK mechanism for older Model 3 & S.

- SOFT CLOSING FRUNK MECHANISM for smooth motorized closing operation.

- FRONT STEERING COLUMN 8.8″ DISPLAY with Apple Siri voice control and multi-touch capabilities.

- AUTO DOOR HANDLES (RBG WIRELESS) with Bluetooth connection for auto-detection and auto handle opening with RGB ambient illumination.

- VENTILATED SEATS (WHITE) with perforated material, low noise fan & original vehicle screen controls.

-ELECTRIC SUNSHADE with motorized open/close operations and easy snap-on installation.

-ELECTRIC FOOTREST (WHITE) for Model Y with original vehicle controls.

-STARLINK CROSS TAILLIGHTS for a fashionable/unique/original look.

-REAR BUMPER REFLECTOR LIGHTS increased visibility and added an aesthetic touch with their slim design.

-YOKE STEERING WHEEL NAPPA SIDE CARBON LEATHER WHITE heated steering wheel feature retained.

-REAR CONSOLE 7.0 CONTROL SYSTEM for Android 13 and Apple CarPlay

-VIEW MIRROR GLOSSY PROTECTOR CAPS carbon fiber /sleek, high-performance

-BIG CARBON FIBER MATTE BLACK SPOILER protects from sun damage and has a unique, original look.

-UNDERBODY PROTECTION SKID PLATE (FRONT AND REAR) for Front steering/autopilot computer protection and Rear electric motor protection.

-CARBON FIBER GLOSSY RED TURN SIGNAL STALK COVERS protect from sun damage and have a unique, original look.

-MULTI-DIRECTIONAL SCREEN SWIVEL for the principal display panel

-LASER ENGRAVED AMBIENT LIGHTING MONOCHROME VERSION (STREAMER) with multi-color touch screen controls.

-REAR SEAT FOLDING TABLE with automatic wireless charging for mobile phones.

-REAR REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER (35L) designed to fit the rear under-floor compartment designed for Model 3 (25-litter) and Model Y (35-litter).

-SOFT LOCKING DOOR MECHANISM for soft motorized closing action.

AND

-PV8-A 8.2″ Mirror Digital AHD Monitor with Ultra High Brightness TFT Dual Video Inputs by RYDEEN MOBILE

We will also showcase our most popular RYDEEN products (TOMBO360, 360VIEW-SPL, CM-V90AHD, and CM-D700AHD), and our updated catalog will also be presented.

You can watch a video presentation and get the necessary information from our highly skilled technical specialist. Our product specialist and national sales manager will show and explain the essential product features and installation basics.

RYDEEN's TEZspex accessories are engineered to safeguard, personalize, and enhance the TESLA driving experience. With a focus on quality, reliability, and sporty aesthetics, RYDEEN's accessories offer a perfect blend of style and functionality, elevating the interior and exterior of Tesla vehicles. These accessories not only enhance the appearance of your TESLA but also provide added comfort, convenience, and safety, making your driving experience more enjoyable and worry-free.

"For 15 years, RYDEEN has been synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation in the automotive industry," said Ruben Torres – national sales manager for RYDEEN. "With our new Line of TESLA accessories, we aim to be the one-stop provider of installation-oriented TESLA products to dealers & distributors nationwide. Offering TESLA owners premium aftermarket solutions that complement the sophistication and elegance of their vehicles."

Throughout 2024, Rydeen will proudly showcase the exclusive TESLA Model Y demo vehicle at prominent events. Join us at SEMA SHOW –Las Vegas from Nov. 5th to 8th (BOOTH #10227). We invite you to visit our booth and immerse yourself in the future of automotive innovation with Rydeen.

To learn more about RYDEEN's TEZspex accessories and explore installation options, visit their website at www.TEZspex.com or subscribe to their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/rydeenmobileusa

For inquiries and further information, please contact Rydeen Mobile Electronics at 310-787-7880 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

STRUT, globally known for their trendsetting and distinctive collections of grilles, wheels, and accessories for high-end automobiles and SUVs, has announced a new association with EVANNEX—the largest automotive aftermarket accessories destination for Tesla automobiles.

EVANNEX will sell the new STRUT Tesla S Collection on its website at www.evannex.com. “Evannex has built a successful business focused on one of the most exciting electric cars ever introduced,” said Simon Trumper, Chief Operating Officer of STRUT. "EVANNEX represents a passionate worldwide audience of Tesla enthusiasts and we are very excited to join forces with them to introduce our stunning Tesla S Collection.”

The STRUT Tesla S Collection comprises a main grille with STRUT shield, Side Moldings, and Rear Spoiler in carbon fiber finish.

Suggested Retail Prices start at: USD $4,600 Availability: Now Shipping.

NY Times -- It is not every day you get to open a door and step into the future.

But to pull the handle on a newly updated Tesla Model S this week and slide into the driver’s seat was to catch a glimpse of the auto industry’s plans to soon let cars drive us, rather than the other way around.

The updated Tesla, an already high-tech electric car that starts at about $75,000, was equipped with what the company calls Autopilot — a semiautonomous feature that allows hands-free, pedal-free driving on the highway under certain conditions. The car will even change lanes autonomously at the driver’s request (by hitting the turn signal) and uses sensors to scan the road in all directions and adjust the throttle, steering and brakes.

It is the first time that a production vehicle available to consumers will have such advanced self-driving capabilities. Or more to the point, the first time they will be unleashed for driving 70 miles per hour along twisty, though clearly marked, highways for long stretches. (Other manufacturers like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz recently introduced their own semiautonomous features, but limit the functions to lower speeds or require the driver to constantly touch the wheel.) And it’s perfectly legal. Among the states, only New York has any law prohibiting hands-free driving.

Thursday morning, Tesla owners woke up to discover that their vehicles can wirelessly download the new autopilot feature as a software update. That means the next time you see a Model S cruising next to you on the interstate, look closely: It may be driving itself.

Autopilot is not free (the download costs $2,500), and it is not yet perfected (clear lane markings are needed, and bad weather can affect its abilities), but it works remarkably well under normal circumstances.

The feeling of gliding autonomously through highway traffic initially feels a bit unnerving, especially on the Washington area’s notoriously congested roads. But on a recent afternoon while testing Tesla’s autopilot, that feeling faded as I began to trust the car to keep its lane along the twisty highway that hugs the Potomac River in Virginia.

One of the most soothing aspects of the system was how natural the steering felt through the turns. To mimic a human driver is one of the big challenges automakers face in designing self-driving cars. That is because computers can be so perfect that they may constantly adjust to stay exactly in the middle of a lane, resulting in a lot of little jerky motions of the wheel that feels unnatural. Not the Tesla. It was silky smooth.

That does not mean, of course, that drivers can simply relax and let their minds wander. The car is skilled at keeping its lane, but when lane markings disappear or are significantly faded, you have to take over.

Similarly, when heading through construction zones, or when traffic is merging, the human driver is wise to keep full control. If you are in the right lane of a highway and cars are merging at slower speeds, most drivers want to move over a lane and go around them. But the Tesla does not know that. It will instead automatically slow to match the slower speeds of the merging cars.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/16/automobiles/tesla-adds-high-speed-autonomous-driving-to-its-bag-of-tricks.html?WT.mc_id=SmartBriefs-Newsletter&WT.mc_ev=click&_r=0

Business Insider, 8-21-2016 -- Tesla will soon be releasing an update to its Autopilot system, reports Electrek.

The carmaker has updated its hardware design to fully embrace the capabilities of the new semi-autonomous driving system, and vehicles with these new specifications will be produced soon, according to the report.

The new Autopilot system will employ a trio of front-facing cameras paired with an enhanced radar array. Tesla already uses a forward-oriented radar system but will be adding additional sensors to build a sound-based, real-time model of the area immediately around the car, in a departure from attempts to create such a model using light-based lidar, according to TechCrunch.

The updated system will reportedly enable the semi-autonomous cars to read stop signs and traffic lights, allowing drivers keep Autopilot mode engaged even when not on the highway.

Tesla continues to pursue autonomous driving technologies, with the goal of introducing fully self-driving cars by 2018. The company is ramping up both vehicle and battery production with the opening of new facilities, and is on track to meet its annual targets. Competitors are trying to keep up with development as carmakers race to introduce semi and fully autonomous vehicles. 

John Greenough, senior research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on self-driving cars that examines the major strides automakers and tech companies have made to overcome the barriers currently preventing fully autonomous cars from hitting the market. Further, the report examines global survey results showing where fully autonomous cars are highly desired.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Three barriers have been preventing fully autonomous cars from hitting the road: 1) high technological component prices; 2) varying degrees of consumer trust in the technology; and 3) relatively nonexistent regulations. However, in the past six months, there have been many advances in overcoming these barriers.
• Technology has been improving as new market entrants find innovative ways to expand on existing fully autonomous car technology. As a result, the price of the components required for fully autonomous cars has been dropping.
• Consumer trust in fully autonomous vehicle technology has increased in the past two years.
• California became the first US state to propose regulations. California's regulations stipulate that a fully autonomous car must have a driver behind the wheel at all times, discouraging Google's and Uber's idea of a driverless taxi system.
• Read the rest of the article HERE. 

12-12-2016, Road Show -- Many different suppliers are working to create chips for various automakers' self-driving cars. But Tesla is taking a different route, reportedly working with Samsung on its own, bespoke chip.

Samsung Electronics will supply the semiconductors for Tesla's own system-on-chip, Reuters reports, citing unnamed sources talking to South Korea's Electronic Times. The sources told Electronic Times that the project would take about three years to complete. Tesla did not immediately return a request for comment.

Tesla's used a variety of supplier parts in the past. Its Autopilot system started out with Mobileye's EyeQ3, but the automaker parted ways with Mobileye earlier this year. To support its latest Autopilot system, which features additional imaging hardware, Tesla moved to Nvidia's Drive PX 2 system.

Moving to its own, bespoke setup would not only give Tesla greater control over its hardware, it might also provide an advantage that other suppliers don't have. Electrek notes that Tesla hired a number of former AMD executives and chip architects earlier this year, which is helping reinforce these rumors as more than pure speculation.

Given that this bespoke system-on-chip would take years to complete, it's likely that it would end up as the backbone for yet another iteration of Autopilot, provided that is what Tesla plans to do.

Read the rest of the stoyr HERE.

The Verge, 11-21-2016 -- In October, Tesla announced that all of its new cars would be outfitted with equipment that would allow them to drive on their own, and released a video showing off the technology. Now, the company has released some additional footage, showing what the car itself sees as it drives without human input.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted the demonstration, which shows off a passenger sitting in the driver’s seat (who was required to be there by law) as the car navigated to its destination traffic, stop lights, and other road conditions before it parks itself. In addition to the view from the car’s interior, the video shows off what the car’s left rear, medium range, and right rear cameras are seeing.

A whirlwind of colors reveal just what the car is "seeing": lane lines and motion, as well as colored boxes for "in path objects" such as road lights, objects and roadsigns. These boxes highlight people, other vehicles, and other potential hazards that a human driver would ordinarily take into consideration while driving.

According to the company, the new cars will be fitted with an onboard computer with "40 times the computing power of the previous generation" to process the vision, sonar, and radar imagery the vehicle takes in.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

C3 Report -- While Tesla made clear that “truly driverless cars are still a few years away” when it released its Autopilot feature for the Model S two months ago via a Version 7.0 software upgrade, some owners of cars with the capability didn’t get the message and did some stupid and dangerous things behind the wheel. These include almost causing collisions by overly relying on the semi-autonomous feature and pulling silly stunts such as shaving and eating breakfast while behind the wheel on the German autobahn and climbing into the back seat as a Model S barreled down a Dutch highway.

Because of this behavior Tesla is reportedly ready dial back some of Autopilot’s self-driving capabilities to keep less sensible Model S owners from winning the Darwin award – and in the process hindering the adoption of self-driving technology by the public and policymakers. The website Teslarati received what it said is a leak and supporting photos from “a tipster” that shows a Firmware 7.1 Autopilot update that creates certain restrictions to the system and noted that “the release has gone out to select beta testers.”

The new Autopilot update supposedly allows the system and its Autosteer feature to function only when a Model S is traveling below the posted speed limit. Regular cruise control can still operate at any speed. Teslarati also reported that that the alleged limits to Autopilot “has ignited a firestorm of criticism from owners,” and is enough to cause some Model S owners to threaten everything from lawsuits to refusal to download the update – or both.

A member of the Tesla Motors Club forum with the handle Cyberax said, “If there’s an update that removes a functionality that is useful for me, then I’m not going to install it. Moreover, I’ll sue Tesla if they update my car without asking me. This screenshot [on the Teslarati website] with 45 mph restriction is now a line in the sand for me.”

Market Watch -- It was an intriguing story. Tesla CEO Elon Musk reportedly offered a multimillion-dollar bonus to tech wunderkind George Hotz if he came up with an autopilot system to “discontinue” Mobileye NV’s technology in Tesla vehicles, Bloomberg reported.

His alleged challenge to Hotz was cited by short seller Andrew Left when he announced Mobileye as the “short of 2016” on Wednesday, causing shares of Mobileye to tank.

Musk on Thursday came to Mobileye’s defense and refuted some of the claims made in the Bloomberg report, though he didn’t comment on his communication with Hotz specifically.

“The article by Ashlee Vance did not correctly represent Tesla or Mobileye,” he said in post on the Tesla’s home page.

“We think it is extremely unlikely that a single person or even a small company that lacks extensive engineering validation capability will be able to produce an autonomous driving system that can be deployed to production vehicles,” Musk wrote.

He pointed out that getting a system to work accurately 99% of the time is easy, but getting it close to 100% is the key.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teslas-elon-musk-comes-to-mobileyes-defense-2015-12-17

IT Business Net -- Cybersecurity researchers on Friday are publicizing software flaws in the Tesla Model S that could allow remote hackers to shut down a moving cars engine.

But owners of the high-tech luxury sedan had little need to worry. The electric-car maker quickly deployed a fix over the Internet

As cars loaded with on-board computers increasingly add wireless connections they are becoming more vulnerable to hackers, as seen recently with a Jeep Cherokee. Teslas response offers a model for how other automakers can address the increasing threat of computer attacks. Tesla owners get prompted on their cars infotainment screens to download software updates, the same way smartphone users do.

The consultants who found the Model S flaws -- Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder and chief technology officer of Lookout Inc., and Marc Rogers, principal security researcher for CloudFlare Inc. -- revealed the vulnerabilities earlier this week ahead of a presentation Friday at the DefCon hacker conference in Las Vegas. The pair discovered six key weaknesses in the vehicle, alerted Tesla Motors Inc. and coordinated their disclosure with a fix from the automaker to reduce the risk to owners of the car, which starts at $70,000.

Two-Edged Sword

Such responsible disclosure, as the process is known in the cybersecurity community, is common in the computer industry. Tesla is unusual in the automotive industry for its ability to update owners vehicles quickly over the Internet. That ability cuts both ways, however; if an automaker can gain access to vehicle electronics from afar, so, too, could a malicious hacker.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV was told to recall about 1.4 million vehicles last month to update software after researchers remotely hacked a Jeep Cherokee traveling at 70 miles per hour and caused it to run off a freeway in a demonstration for Wired. The automaker patched its software by mailing out USB drives to be plugged into vehicles.

That hack, which worked by scanning a cellular network to locate and disable Jeeps, showed that wireless connections are the weak underbelly of high-tech cars. Such attacks are potentially more dangerous than the method in the Tesla hack, in which the researchers had to have physical access to tamper with the cars electronics.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.itbusinessnet.com/article/Teslas-Response-to-Hacked-Car-Offers-a-Road-Map-for-Fast-Fixes-4014519