Tesla has consistently pursued minimalism and innovation, but not every design decision has won over owners. One example was removing the turn signal stalk from Model 3 Highland and replacing it with touch controls on the steering wheel. Following customer feedback, reports suggested the stalk could return to Model 3, as it had on the new Model Y.
What owners were asking for
The report cited Chris Zheng and linked the expected return to customer requests, rather than convenience alone. In an interview, Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy acknowledged that the company had removed “one component too many”, illustrating how “less is more” can sometimes go too far.
While some Cybertruck and Model S/X owners had adapted to stalk-free controls, the transition was harder for drivers of Model 3 and Model Y, which reach a broader audience often accustomed to conventional cars. Bringing back a familiar physical control would make indicating more intuitive for many of them.
What would the new Model 3 stalk do?
The anticipated update would not restore a traditional multifunction stalk. The new control was expected to operate the turn signals only, rather than bringing back the full set of functions associated with older stalks. Other controls, including gear selection, would remain on the display or dedicated steering wheel buttons.
Could existing Model 3 cars be upgraded?
At publication, there was no official confirmation of a retrofit for Model 3 Highland cars already on the road. Tesla might offer an upgrade kit for owners who wanted the new stalk, but no details were available.
What about the other models?
The report considered a return of stalks to Model S and Model X unlikely at the time, given their button-based controls with either a yoke or round steering wheel. It also speculated about steer-by-wire in a future refresh; that was a possibility, not a confirmed change.
Cybertruck was designed without a turn signal stalk and uses steer-by-wire, reducing the steering wheel movement needed for a turn. Some owners find the button-based approach intuitive after an adjustment period, although preferences differ.
Looking ahead
A return of the Model 3 turn signal stalk would be an example of Tesla responding to customer feedback. The company continues to explore minimalist controls, while recognising that not every change is immediately welcome to every driver.
We had already discussed this and other Model 3 Highland omissions in:
Tesla Model 3: what would make it even better?
The reported update suggested that at least one of those concerns was being addressed.
💶 REFERRAL PROGRAMME 🚘
The €500 discount offer described at publication
Click the following link to apply the discount and order the car through the normal purchase process (or copy and paste it into Google):
https://www.Teslhub.com/Sconto
👏 That’s it! Under the offer described at publication, this provided €500 off a new Tesla.
The discount link was also listed in our bio under “Buy a Tesla – €500 discount” and in our website menu under “Buy a Tesla”.
If you do not want to miss any news, these are great places to stay up to date.
Or join Teslhub Members: a whole community on Telegram to talk, ask questions and share Tesla experiences with us and other members.
Enjoy the rest of your day. See you in the next article or on our social channels. 🌐
Until next time!
Giorgio Rebecchi
Editor
Let’s discuss it
Experiences, questions and perspectives from the Teslhub community.
Please keep the discussion respectful. Members’ comments are moderated before publication.
Start the conversation. Leave the first comment.