Tesla's "yoke" steering wheel has now been removed from almost all cars. This change comes with minor updates to the Model S and Model X EV. This may be Tesla's most controversial feature to date. What was once standard across all models is now only an optional feature.
Now you can take this "yoke" only if you have a plaid trim. For this, you will have to pay more money for Plaid Trim, and then $1,000 more for this option. That's a huge price for something that's worth half a steering wheel. It seems that some Plaid buyers still chose this option, so Tesla has kept it for them.
Tesla had launched "yoke" in 2021. It was liked by Elon's fans, but for everyone else it was confusing. In tests at the time it was described as difficult to hold, difficult to use when taking sharp turns. At the same time, it also covered the vehicle controls of the center console. There was also the problem of its trim coming off within 4,000 miles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had also questioned its legal validity.
"Yoke" was not so popular that when Tesla introduced a real steering wheel for $700 to replace it, it sold out in a week. Tesla tried to recreate the "yoke" in 2022 with better quality and usability, but even this did not succeed. It was initially standard on the Plaid high-performance version, and was always an option on the Long Range version. At first it cost $250, and then it increased to $1,000. Other buyers of the Model S and Model X saw no benefit in this expensive feature, making the driving experience even worse. The "yoke" steering wheel was even Elon's idea, but the customers did not want it.
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The Model S and Model X received a small update after a long time. These updates included a quieter cabin due to active noise cancellation, updated suspension bushings and re-tuned settings to improve the ride. Added a new camera and a new camera. However, these updates are not free; The prices of sedans and SUVs have gone up by $5,000.
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In addition, there is a new blue paint option that will cost $2,500 extra. So yes, if you really want "yoke," it can still be found in the new Tesla, but the total cost is much higher than last year. Other automakers like Lexus are also trying "yoke" in their cars like the RZ. However, they have the advantage of variable ratio, which means you will not have to hit the air while parallel parking.
Source: Teslarati
