Image: Tesla
Tesla has officially reintroduced turn signal stalks for the Model 3 in China, offering new buyers and existing owners the option to restore the familiar control. The change comes nearly two years after Tesla controversially removed stalks from the Model 3 with its September 2023 “Highland” refresh, requiring drivers to instead use steering wheel buttons to indicate turns and a touchscreen swipe for gear selection.
Every new Model 3 in China will now ship with a steering column-mounted turn signal stalk as standard. For current owners of “stalkless” Model 3s, Tesla has also launched a retrofit option. According to a Tesla Shop listing for China, the retrofit costs RMB 2,499 (around $350 USD) and replaces the steering wheel-mounted turn signal buttons with a traditional lever.
The retrofit will initially only be available for Model 3 vehicles built after February 7, 2025, starting in mid-September. Tesla says cars manufactured before that date will be eligible “later.” Installation must be done at a Tesla Service Center and requires scheduling at least three days in advance. The price covers both parts and labor, while the original steering wheel and accessories are collected and recycled by Tesla.
As of now, the company doesn’t appear to have any plans to bring back the gear selector stalk. Drivers will still have to use the central touchscreen to select drive modes, as has been the case since the 2023 update.
Tesla’s decision mirrors a more cautious approach taken with the Model Y in China. When the refreshed Model Y launched earlier this year, the SUV kept its turn signal stalk while adopting the touchscreen-based gear selector from the Model 3. Just last week, Tesla also launched the new Model 3+ in China, the company’s longest-range EV in the country to date.
With the stalk making a comeback, at least in China, Tesla seems to be acknowledging customer feedback, while still sticking with its broader vision of a simplified, more software-driven cockpit.
