Tesla is walking back one of its more controversial design farts. People who like to drive cars like normal adults can rejoice now that turn signal stalks are finally back on Tesla Model 3s. The automaker has confirmed that all Model 3 Highland trims in China will once again ship with a proper stalk, reversing the button-only setup that sparked nearly two years of debate. It’s a move that feels a lot like Tesla admitting, “Okay, maybe we went too far.”
When the refreshed Model 3 Highland debuted in August 2023, it arrived with slimmer headlights, a quieter cabin, more range, and generally sharper refinement. But Tesla also pulled a classic Tesla nonsense: stripping away familiar hardware in the name of minimalism. The gear selector stalk vanished, and so did the turn signal stalk—replaced by small buttons on the steering wheel. Drivers who loved the clean look quickly learned that muscle memory doesn’t always translate to modern tech. Turn signals became awkward for some, especially during sharp corners, and complaints piled up.
A Customer-Driven Reversal
After listening to owners—loudly, and for a long time—Tesla is restoring the stalk, at least in China. The brand’s official configurator now shows the feature as standard across every Model 3 trim, signaling a clear change in strategy. For a company that often prides itself on “knowing better,” this feels like an unusually public acknowledgment that customers were right.
But it’s not just new buyers who benefit. Tesla is also rolling out a factory-backed retrofit for existing Highland owners who never warmed to the wheel buttons. Starting in mid-September, owners in China will be able to purchase the upgrade for ¥2,499 (about $349) through Tesla’s online shop or app. The catch? It has to be installed at a Tesla Service Center, where technicians will swap in a redesigned steering wheel and fit the stalk using specialized tools.
Not Just Any Stalk
This isn’t Tesla dusting off old parts from pre-Highland models. The new lever is modeled after the one used in the Model Y Juniper, making it slimmer and more modern than before. Tesla will also recycle the steering wheels and button modules it pulls from existing cars, reducing costs and cutting waste—a very Tesla way to handle logistics, if it works.
And while the move is currently limited to China, the writing’s on the wall. Tesla rarely invests in redesigning parts for just one market. If customers in North America and Europe keep voicing their preference, it’s only a matter of time before the stalk makes a global comeback.
TopSpeed’s Take
For all Tesla’s success, the brand’s brutalist/Sci-Fi approach sometimes clashes with people who just need to drive their car for regular life and not as a stunt. The turn signal stalk saga shows that even the most forward-thinking automaker has to listen when drivers push back. At the end of the day, convenience matters, and something as simple as signaling a lane change shouldn’t require a learning curve.
So yes, Tesla messed up. But with the return of the stalk, it’s also proving it can fix things—even if it takes a few years (and a lot of customer feedback) to get there.
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