Tesla’s decision to remove the traditional turn signal stalk in favor of steering wheel buttons has been widely criticized — and now the company is admitting it may have made a mistake.
Speaking in an interview, Tesla’s chief technical officer Lars Moravy acknowledged that the company may have taken its minimalist approach too far.
"Maybe we took too much away," Moravy told The Driven.
The Tesla Model 3 is now expected to get the traditional turn signal lever back as part of a facelift later this year, according to multiple reports.
Tesla Reverses Course After Backlash
When Tesla first introduced button-operated turn signals in the Model 3 and Model S/X refresh, the reaction from drivers and safety experts was overwhelmingly negative.
Swedish road safety expert Jeanette Jedbäck Hindenburg even called it a “diabolical invention.”
The system placed turn signal buttons directly on the steering wheel, which many drivers found awkward and difficult to use — especially in stressful driving situations.
Criticism only grew when Tesla kept the stalk in the updated Model Y, leading many to question why it was removed from the Model 3 in the first place.
Now, according to reports from China and Tesla analyst Chris Zheng, the company is preparing to bring the stalk back — a move that may help win back potential buyers who had been turned off by the change.
"The Model 3 will soon add a turn signal handle," Zheng wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
When Will the Turn Signal Stalk Return?
While there’s no official word from Tesla yet, reports indicate the reintroduction of the turn signal stalk could happen this year as part of a larger update to the Model 3.
The update is also expected to include a refreshed interior and exterior design, as Tesla works to boost sales amid declining demand.
It remains unclear if Tesla will extend the change to the Model S and Model X or whether existing Model 3 owners will be able to retrofit the stalk. Tesla has not yet commented on these possibilities.
Tesla’s decision to reverse course seems to be driven by two main factors:
Massive Customer Pushback – Many buyers refused to consider a Tesla simply because of the awkward turn signal system.
Falling Model 3 Sales – Restoring the turn signal stalk could help attract more buyers and boost demand.
Tesla has long embraced the philosophy of removing features to streamline design, but Moravy admitted that this time, they may have gone too far.
"At Tesla, we have always said that if you don't take away so much that you have to put something back, you haven’t taken away enough," he said. "Well, maybe we took too much away."
