Tesla drivers in New York, Washington, D.C., and other major cities on the eastern seaboard are sharing images showing themselves driving with “Bioweapon Defense Mode” engaged to filter the severe pollution generated by a series of Canadian wildfires.
The federal government reports much of the the east coast continues to suffer from an unhealthy and hazardous level of wildfire smoke particulates in the air, with AirNow.gov reporting some of the most affected areas to be New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and eastern Pennsylvania.
Those driving certain models of Tesla vehicles, however, find themselves equipped with a HEPA filtration system ZeroHedge reports is “capable of stripping the outside air of smoke and other harmful particles and systemically scrubbing the air inside the cabin to eliminate any trace” of wildfire smoke particles. Many are posting images of the system at work to social media.
@Tesla bioweapon defense mode active today in NYC pic.twitter.com/sZfCEoUgMn
— Cyprian.sats (@cypsad) June 7, 2023
Always one step ahead of us… thanks @telsa and @elonmusk – didn’t think Tesla HEPA Filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode was needed in NYC area… until today! pic.twitter.com/EklieaQAHO
— Heather S (@heatherwallst) June 7, 2023
Air quality down bad.
Activating @Tesla Bioweapon Defense Mode
Thanks homie @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/KyDBuxZkhH
— Terrible N🏜️ (@Cambodius) June 7, 2023
Bioweapon defense mode activated here in #NYC. Thanks @tesla. ☣️ #AirQuality #NYCsmoke pic.twitter.com/dT38QMKAq8
— Ramy (@RamyPlaid) June 7, 2023
When the #wildfire #smoke is too much to bear on the east coast, bioweapon defense mode via #Tesla to the rescue! pic.twitter.com/9a4sS4JFzb
— Chris Milas (@chrismilas) June 8, 2023
If you're driving a @Tesla Model S, X, or Y and affected by Wildfire smoke, go into your climate control and turn on Bioweapon Defense Mode ☣ to filter out particulates and keep the air in your car clean. We used it here in Michigan. pic.twitter.com/f3EEzYJeyq
— Dirty Tesla (@DirtyTesLa) June 7, 2023
Elon Musk, the high profile owner of Tesla, himself commented on his vehicles, specifically naming which models offer the air filtration system.
Tesla Model S & Model X have hospital-grade HEPA air filters, protecting you from dust, bacteria, pollen (allergies), spores & many toxic gaseshttps://t.co/48s5D3IfWs
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 8, 2023
On the auto maker’s website, Tesla reassures users that “Bioweapon Defense Mode” is not a marketing ploy, and insists the filters are capable of helping drivers withstand an actual attack.
“Bioweapon Defense Mode is not a marketing statement, it is real. You can literally survive a military-grade bio attack by sitting in your car,” the car manufacturer promises.

































