Did your new Tesla model 3 come without an indicator stalk?
They are now available, fitted by Tesla.
But you have to be in China.
They became available just 3 days after Tesla's head engineer admitted "maybe we deleted too much" in reference to that model update.
https://electrek.co/2025/08/19/tesla-will-sell-you-a-retrofi…
This is excellent news.
I wonder how ANCAP will relate this to safety?
Having to take your eyes off the road to look for something on a screen is a distraction that can cause a crash. If you know where the control is, or you can do it with a physical control by touch it improves safety. Of course some cars years ago had the same problem with so many similar switches in a row across the dash that you had to take your eyes off the road to select the right one.
(Incidentally, the only research I've seen on how many crashes caused by distractions relate to mobile phone use said its only about 10%. There's lots of other distractions that cause crashes both in the car and outside.)
Based
I really hope this is true. ANCAP should consider for the best safety that stereo volume & temperature settings should be a physical dial with mute being a button inside the dial. There should be a physical buttons for the front & rear demist as well. The hazard lights are legally mandated to be a physical button so why not some of the other functions that you touch a lot while driving that you can easily find just by feel.
ANCAP will not assess the layout of vehicle controls, only that they exist.
I believe Tesla's stalk-less design would still get the full 5 points after the rule change, as the indicator controls, wiper controls, major audio controls etc are all accessible via hardware buttons on the steering wheel.
There are very few genuinely universal controls in a car when you think about it, the steering wheel and pedal arrangement are really the only things that are never different. Everything else is up for grabs:
- indicator stalks can be on the left or right, or on the wheel
- wiper and headlight controls can be almost anywhere (remember foot pedals for high beam?)
- gear selectors can take any number of forms from levers to knobs to paddles
- infinite variations of stereo controls and AC controls, which can be a nightmare to decipher
- handbrakes can be on either side and might be a lever or a pull-handle or a button.
Don't even get me started on the different forms of cruise control schema. Even the driver instrumentation has a fair degree of variation - centre-mounted speedos have been around since the 60's.
Not just ANCAP, but also Euro NCAP. From the best sources I could find in 2 minutes of looking:
The proposed changes will not make physical buttons mandatory for a five-star safety rating but will encourage their use through a scoring system. Vehicles incorporating physical buttons for key controls will be rewarded with five points, contributing to their overall safety score.
ANCAP will award points for the use of physical controls for the following functions: the horn, indicators, windscreen wipers, hazard lights and a call for SOS
They are now available, fitted by Tesla.
But you have to be in China.
Ok, I'll let me neighbour know. He was complaining about this, so it's good to know that he is just going to have to drive to a dealer in China and get it fitted. Thanks!
That makes sense. Cheers.
And cents.
Having a turn signal stalk as an optional accessory is like the old days where everything was an option: coloured mirror caps, electric windows, tachometer, air conditioning.
And the full power of the motor?
VW is advertising certain EV models have a certain power, but you can get more if you pay a one off fee, or a monthly subscription. There are no changes to the vehicle you've bought, the payment just turns on an extra 20 kW in the software. 148 kW becomes 168 kW.
https://electrek.co/2025/08/14/volkswagen-making-ev-owners-p…
Just have to wait for someone to pirate the extra power…
Just like what Audi/VW/BMW do, they de-tune some of their engines to sell the more expensive versions.
@JimB: BMW famously did it for a while with heated seats. The car came with heated seats. You had to pay to get them enabled. I'm told that because of the negative reaction they've stopped doing that.
@GordonD: BMW offers the Indicator Package to enable the use of indicators. Uptake is said to be very low.
@JimB: Thats a better way to do it. Subscription is dumb, but people will pay extra at pruchase time to get extra features.
Its probably cheaper to put the same motor in all models and just 'tune' it differently. BMW could afford to put heated seats in every model in the hope of getting some subscription suckers so it stands to reason that derating motor is easier than adding an extra powerful motor to some cars on the productuon line.
Ive had a few cars where wiring is in place for extra features. Its just a matter of adding the parts.
@JimB: Yes, and no.
Correct in that they often use the same base engine across multiple models and trims, but with different power outputs. But it isn’t exactly “de-tuning” to sell the more expensive model. It’s more nuanced in product segmentation. For example, the higher-output versions often also have upgraded cooling, driveline components, or turbos. It also lets manufacturers spread R&D costs across fewer base engines.
Another thing they do, is de-tuning for market conditions. Australia is a good example of this because our warmer ambient temperatures and long highway stretches mean cars need to handle sustained load in heat. Also fuel quality, emissions rules etc. So engines are mapped differently for compliance and reliability.
It's not quite as nefarious as simply "let's make 'em slower so people buy the more expensive model" — but I get why it seems that way on paper when the block itself is the same.
They're probably hoping you do that so they can deny the inevitable warranty claim.
Tesla does that with their long range variant.
The typical 0-100 for the Model 3 long range is 4.3s; if you pay 3,500 dollar upgrade it unlocks the full power to 3.9s.
Tesla also in the past removed features when the original buyer sells the car and Telsa is aware of the sale. The 2nd owner doesn't own the upgraded features of the car. Tesla will happily sell the 2nd owner the option to use said features.
Not sure if it still happens.
@JimB: It does. But on the other hand they tend to add additional features like enhanced autopilot to trade ins they resell too.
This has been happening with ICE engines for a very long time. Same base engine, differ not states of tune, different price.
Next they’ll come without a horn, just a rear sticker that reads “Horn not fitted, watch for finger".
We've turned 180 on coloured mirror caps.
Now some more expensive versions of cars have black coloured mirror caps for the sporty look.
Glad to see Tesla responding to their customers. Deleting the stalks was dangerous.
Most BMW drivers now drive teslas
Tesla drivers are a different kind of knob, the insufferable type.
I knew what you linked without even clicking.
I still:
How do you indicate with no stalk?
Put your arm out the window…
People turning left must be Mister Fantastic
Only a right turning hand signal and stopping/slowing hand signals are required.
https://resources.reglii.com/VGG.1999.10.28.P2.pdf
No stalk you say, doesn't leave mushroom for error.
How do you indicate with no stalk?
The car activates them itself in some circumstances. If it doesn't there are buttons on the steering wheel. And I understand the buttons can also initiate lane changes by the car.
The problem with the Tesla isn't that you don't have a way to activate your indicators, its that everyone is used to the standard way of doing it on every car, using the wand on the side of the steering wheel. Steering wheels all work the same way. Accelerators. Brakes. People want indicators to too.
One rental car company stopped buying Teslas because of the complaints.
One rental car company stopped buying Teslas because of the complaints.
who wants to rent an EV?
sit around and wait 30 mins to charge to provided level or pay $$ to drop off with flat battery, having to think if destination will have charging facilities
Takes 5 mins to refuel before returning a rental
A lot of drivers think that indicators are an optional extra anyway.
Especially Audi drivers.
I know the running joke is BMW drivers, but honestly it's anyone. There's a general lack of road courtesy these days (and it also extends beyond the road unfortunately), and that's badge agnostic. People just kind of be assholes.
People seem to be getting more selfish, but i wonder if the perception is a result of more social media stuff. Is the same proportion of assholes we've always had just more apparent? We are always being bombarded with 'roads are worse' etc.
Not so many viral videos of people being nice. Dashcam compilations would be really dull if it was just drivers letting others in and following the rules.
That's because you'd have to have shitforbrains to buy one in the first place.
I think it's a smart play by Tesla to bring them back. I get their position of trying to "push the boundaries" but something like this feels pretty fundamental to a safe driving experience, and the cons of removing it outweigh the benefits.
That all being said! I actually have a Model 3 without the indicator stalk, and it took me a couple of weeks to get used to it. Doesn't bother me at all now.
From, I believe, next year ANCAP will be reducing the crash test scores of vehicles that don't have certain basic functions operated by physical controls, rather than on a screen, or at least placed permanently available on a dedicated part of the screen so you don't have to navigate down through menus to find them.