Tesla Model 3 owner gets a chip implanted into his hand to unlock his car

A US Tesla Model 3 owner has gone to extraordinary lengths to unlock his car, opting to implant an electronic chip in his hand rather than use the standard credit card-style sensor key.

In a video posted on social media platform Twitter, Tesla owner Brandon Dalaly showed off how the chip can be used to lock and unlock his Model 3's doors as well as start the car.

The video also shows the process of the chip being implanted into Dalaly's right hand by a body piercer.

If you’re squeamish, it’s best not to watch.

The implant has a near-field communication (NFC) chip – used in hotel key cards and for contactless payments in smartphones – which is paired to Mr Dalaly’s Tesla Model 3 through a smartphone app.

Tesla owners primarily have four ways of accessing their cars – with a key card (supplied as standard), a key fob (a $235 option in Australia), via Bluetooth connections from a paired smartphone, or through the Tesla smartphone app.

Mr Dalaly claims his phone’s poor battery management system means the Bluetooth connection method of unlocking and locking his car “only works half the time”.

According to Tesla-focused US publication Teslarati, Mr Dalaly signed up for the electronic chip implant as a part of a ‘beta’ test program, with roughly 100 other people testing out the chips before they become available to the wider public.

In his interview with Teslarati, Mr Dalaly said he was able to buy the chip at a reduced cost of $US300 ($AU435) due to being a beta tester, while it cost him $US100 ($AU145) to be pierced.

On his Twitter post, Mr Dalaly clarified the chip can be used for more than operating his Tesla Model 3, such as storing data and making credit card transactions.

If Mr Dalaly decides to buy another car with the same sensor technology, the chip can be assigned to the new vehicle.