With its latest stalkless vehicles, Tesla has literally created a market for aftermarket drive stalks that attach to your steering wheel.
The first products are here.
Starting with the new Model S and Model X, followed by the refreshed Model 3, Tesla removed the steering wheel stalks on most of its vehicles, except the Model Y, though it is expected to follow soon.
Instead of using the left stalk for turn signals, Tesla has added force touch buttons on the steering wheels. Instead of the right drive stalk, Tesla has added drive gear controls on the center screen.
It’s one of several examples of moves Tesla has made because it believed it was on the verge of solving self-driving. CEO Elon Musk said that “any driver input is an error” and that he wants the vehicle to anticipate any driver input and automatically do it for them.
The removal of the stalks is probably the most controversial of these “we don’t need this because self-driving is coming” moves. Many long-time Tesla drivers said they wouldn’t update to a new Tesla without stalks.
Now, it has even created a market for aftermarket steering stalks.
Aftermarket Tesla accessory maker Enhance has released new attachable stalks for the Model 3:
The aftermarket stalks can basically replace all the original functions except that they don’t have any back-and-forth motions.
Here’s a list of all the functions and how they are compatible with different Tesla models.
The installation looks quite easy as it communicates wirelessly through your car’s OBD port with Enhance’s communication units.
They are selling the package for $344.
Electrek’s Take
Top comment by Doug T
It's always obvious where Musk mandated engineering changes, because of the astounding incompetence.
Falcon wing doors
Radar delete
Lidar phobia
Removal of reverse/drive/park selector
Removal of turn stalks
Awkward horn button
Yolk steering wheel
Putting near all controls on touchscreen
Not having HUD or even screen in front of driver
Undersized brakes
Weak cheap suspensions
Cheap spartan interiors
Ramping immature dry process structurly integrated battery tech
Full hard stainless body
"Exoskeleton" fail
Wheel covers overlapping tires
Sacrificing suspension articulation & performance to maximize ground clearance specs
Using customers as beta testers for dangerous software on public roads
We haven’t tried it, so I cannot comment on how well it works, but I understand why there would be a market for it.
Personally, after driving the Cybertruck and the new Model 3, I didn’t have many issues with the turn signals on the steering wheel. I got used to it within a few days.
The lack of drive gear stalk was more annoying though.
What do you think about a product like this? Would you use it? Let us know in the comment section below.
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