Tesla has changed direction in China for its Model 3 sedan, bringing back the turn signal stalk after customers were unhappy with the button-based controls. Two years ago, Tesla removed the stalk and replaced it with buttons on the steering wheel. This move was meant to make the car’s design simpler. Customers found the new system hard to use in certain situations, like turning at roundabouts, because the buttons move with the steering wheel. This caused safety concerns and negative feedback from many users.
The turn signal stalk is now included in all new Model 3 cars sold in China. Tesla is also letting current owners add the stalk to their cars by paying 2,499 yuan, or about $350. This kit comes with a new steering wheel, and Tesla service centers will install it. The company will recycle the old steering wheel parts. For now, only cars made after February 7, 2025, can get this upgrade, but Tesla says more models will be eligible later.
This change is only for China at the moment. Tesla cars in other countries, like the UK and the US, still use the steering wheel buttons for signals. Tesla has not said if the feature will roll out to other markets.
Tesla’s engineering boss Lars Moravy admitted the company may have cut out too many controls. He said, “With the indicator stalk, we always say at Tesla if you aren’t deleting so much that you have to put something back in, you haven’t deleted enough. Well, maybe we deleted too much.” Chief designer Franz von Holzhausen described the company’s wish for fewer buttons, saying, “In a world where we’re going to see more and more autonomous vehicles, and full self-driving for Tesla is advancing rapidly, people will be driving less, so you need fewer buttons to interface with.” But customers want simple, clear controls while self-driving is not yet widely used.
Tesla is treating this as a trial run by bringing the stalk back first in China, where it faces strong rivals such as BYD and NIO. The company is watching how customers respond before deciding on a global rollout. Recent changes to other Tesla models show a similar direction. The latest Model Y kept the old-fashioned stalk but moved the gear selector to the touchscreen. This shows Tesla is still exploring which controls should stay physical and which can become digital.
Many Tesla drivers and car experts have praised the return of the stalk, saying it fixes a problem that made driving uncomfortable and less safe. Some companies even started to sell their own upgrade kits before Tesla’s official version came out.
Tesla’s choice to allow retrofits is unusual because the company usually sticks to its original design choices. Offering installation at their own service centers and recycling old pieces shows a new approach to customer service.
For now, the added stalk only controls the turn signals. Changing gears still happens on the touchscreen, as Tesla thinks this works well. Tesla has not shared if or when markets outside of China will get the turn signal stalk again, but this move could shape future design choices. Many are watching to see if Tesla will become more open to feedback from drivers.
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