Musk announced: Tesla drivers can watch videos and play games while driving in 3-6 months

【PCauto】Tesla CEO Elon Musk has recently announced on X that the company will roll out a new feature within 3 to 6 months allowing drivers to play in-car games while driving, provided it is permitted by local regulations.

The feature will run via the central touchscreen. Although a warning message, “for passenger use on” will appear, there is no technical barrier preventing drivers from operating the games, once again placing Tesla under regulatory scrutiny over its driver assistance systems.

NHTSA Already Critical of Tesla’s Driver Monitoring System

According to a demonstration video, the new feature lifts the existing restriction that limits gaming to when the car is parked, allowing large-scale games such as Grand Theft Auto to run while the vehicle is in motion under Autopilot.

Tesla claims that the system will use the in-cabin camera to monitor driver attention and will immediately pause the game if signs of distraction are detected.

However, a recent investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found serious flaws in Tesla’s current driver monitoring system. On average, the system takes up to 7.8 seconds to detect that a driver’s hands have left the steering wheel while Autopilot is engaged.

Governments and Regulatory Bodies Push Back Against Tesla’s New Feature

The NHTSA has launched a special investigation into relevant matters, stating that the feature may violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 130, which mandates measures to prevent driver distraction.

Even more concerning, Euro NCAP (the European New Car Assessment Programme) has explicitly warned that if Tesla insists on proceeding with the feature, vehicles like the Model 3 and Model Y will lose their five-star safety ratings.

Meanwhile, a representative from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) indicated that such a feature would be highly unlikely to pass the regulatory approval process required for new vehicle launches under current standards.

Tesla’s Safety Record Adds Fuel to the Controversy

According to NHTSA data, Tesla vehicles accounted for 76% of all U.S. traffic accidents involving Autopilot in 2024. Notably, in 23% of those cases, drivers were actively using the in-car entertainment system at the time of the crash.

Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) also identified a technical loophole, finding that in 12% of cases, Tesla drivers were able to bypass restrictions and access parked-mode gaming features while the vehicle was in motion.

Tech Giants Voice Support, in Stark Contrast to Cautious Governments

In contrast to the cautious stance of traditional carmakers, some tech companies have voiced support for Tesla’s approach. Google Waymo’s Chief Technology Officer stated that “Full autonomy is meant to liberate human attention.”Meanwhile, internal documents from Apple’s automotive division revealed that its upcoming immersive AR cockpitincludes similar entertainment functionalities.

This clash of philosophies turned into a public debate at the Munich Digital Life Summit, where Daimler’s CEO accused Tesla of “turning public roads into arcades,” while Elon Musk fired back, saying, “People once tried to ban cars in the age of horse-drawn carriages, too.”

As Phase II of the EU’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) is set to take effect and the U.S. Autonomous Vehicle Act heads to a Senate vote, Tesla’s move could accelerate the development of a global regulatory framework for intelligent vehicles.

This high-stake battle over the boundaries of technological innovation has implications far beyond the automotive industry. It has become a real-world test of how societies balance responsibility and freedom in the AI era. With regulatory bodies around the world weighing in, the next 90 days may mark a critical turning point in the history of smart mobility. If approved, the feature could give rise to a new in-car gaming industry worth an estimated $1.2 billion annually. If rejected, Tesla could face sunk costs of up to $470 million in R&D.