And Tesla cancels the turn signal order

This page is translated from the original post "Et Tesla supprima la commande de clignotants" in French.

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Volant tesla 3

By choosing to remove the turn signal lever and shifting its activation to the steering wheel of the new Model 3, has Tesla gone too far?

Tesla has taken a new step in its quest for minimalism by abandoning the stalks on the steering column of the new Tesla Model 3. Goodbye to those unsightly stalks that previously controlled the windshield wipers, headlights, radio commands, and… turn signals! Some small details make all the difference, but some adjustments can have a much more negative effect than their creator might admit.

The social media buzzes since the unveiling of the new Model 3 with widespread discontent regarding the removal of this small lever, a turn signal activator, which had become a second nature for drivers. Good and bad habits are anyway meant to be taken and lost, but when it pertains to a safety accessory, the situation changes. The first obvious point is that it makes something simple much less simple.

Should We Relearn How to Drive Because of Tesla?

While many drivers already misuse or do not use their turn signals at all, this change could worsen the problem because it will require the implementation of new automatisms that no driving school has prepared millions of drivers for. Handling a stalk within reach is much more intuitive than pressing a button on the steering wheel. Just as moving the shift lever to a touchscreen can also cause very serious repercussions in case of electrical or software problems.

Of course, Tesla faced similar backlash when it centralized all information on a single screen. Owners have adapted, and it is now considered just a feature of the Model 3 and Y. Tesla likely considered the reduction in manufacturing costs logically associated with removing this accessory, but the wiring needed to transfer control to the steering wheel certainly isn’t the ultimate solution. So, there remains the marketing aspect, which is quite successful from that side.

We will see if Tesla’s design philosophy prevails and if consumers embrace the minimalism that the brand aims for. Remember that, much to the dismay of a whole generation used to this magical tool, Apple dropped the physical touch button on the iPhone in 2017 in its quest for minimalism. Who would today demand its return?

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