News
Tesla is priming customers for a disappearing steering wheel
Tesla’s introduction of the “Yoke Steering Wheel” with the Model S refresh saw mixed reviews upon initial examination. The always sporty Model S has adopted a new, supercar-like interior, with the Yoke capping off Tesla’s redesign to the flagship sedan.
However, upon further examination, I realized that Tesla isn’t priming the Model S to be a supercar. Of course, the introduction of the face-melting Plaid+ variant is undoubtedly a nod toward those who require a little extra pep from the all-electric powerhouse. However, the Yoke steering wheel is undoubtedly a minimalization of arguably the most necessary piece of a car’s interior. But Tesla’s mission is self-driving, so it seems the company is actually priming drivers to get used to less and less of a steering wheel and could be the reason for the size reduction.
It can be noted that the Yoke does not cover or reduce visibility to the instrument panel or the windshield. It is a low-sitting steering column that provides maximum visibility during a drive. It is certainly complimentary of the new powertrain and performance specifications with its sporty look. However, the big picture is that Tesla is preparing its first sedan for a future of driverless navigation.
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For the past few months, Tesla has really made some serious leaps in the pursuit of Full Self-Driving. While the company’s robust and intricate FSD Beta is among the most successful self-driving platforms, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Of course, Tesla will take any steps necessary to increase the accuracy of its self-driving project, but really, it only takes the drivers to do that, as the Neural Network continues to make vehicles smarter with every mile driven.
As self-driving moves closer to reality, Tesla is beginning to minimize its interiors even more than ever before. While the HVAC system is now streamlined to eliminate outdated vents, the car is, in effect, becoming a moving entertainment center. As photographs of the new Model S interior show, there are three screens, storage compartments, a steering wheel, and pedals. There is not much more on the inside, appealing to a modern contemporary taste of interior design while still upholding the classic safety standards of the automobile. Things are becoming smaller, more simple, and less cluttered inside the car in preparation for the self-driving future that will inevitably confront us within the near future. When, exactly, nobody knows. But it will be soon, Elon Musk says.
The car, internally, is becoming more sophisticated, smarter, complex, and intricate with every mile driven. The inside of the car is doing the exact opposite. While the parts of the vehicle that control navigation are minimizing or disappearing, the car’s entertainment is becoming the focal point.
Many noticed that while the steering wheel became smaller, it didn’t disappear altogether. It can’t. At least not at this point in time, because Tesla hasn’t attained Level 5 autonomy yet. However, the stalks, which control the turn signals, headlights, wipers, and the gearshift on a Tesla, have all been removed. It’s the beginning of the end of drivers being able to control these features of the car. Eventually, the vehicle will do all of these things without any interference or intervention from the person who is in control.
While the stalks have turned into buttons on the steering yoke, the removal hints toward the next generation of minimalistic Tesla interiors. Eventually, we may think the Model 3 and Model Y interior was clunky and too busy. Looking at past photos of the Model S interior already gives me that feeling when comparing it to the new interior. Of course, things improve over time, and it was only a matter of when Tesla decided to do this, considering the self-driving suite has been a goal of Musk’s for several years.
No stalks on the new Tesla Model S/X steering wheel, so here’s how you use the turn signals pic.twitter.com/bVdGVsvj8t
— Drive Tesla ?? #FSDBetaCanada (@DriveTeslaca) January 28, 2021
Eventually, Tesla will continue to phase out small, insignificant parts of the car to make an easier transition later on when FSD is fully rolled out, and the automaker captures full autonomy. It wouldn’t make sense not to update the interior along the way, and instead, have people go from a car with normal interior designs to a car with literally nothing but screens.
Most importantly, Tesla could also offer a full-wheel setup for those who are not in favor of the Yoke. Many people texted and contacted me, stating that they were not a huge fan of the new design for a daily driver and that it could be more advantageous to introduce the option for a full-wheel design later on. I think that the Yoke is certainly very objective and, while some find it appealing and interesting, others do not. There is no right or wrong answer in terms of what is more advantageous, but Tesla’s goal is to begin preparing drivers for a car that will drive itself, eliminating the need for a wheel or any other regularly used control mechanisms within a car.
It has already begun.
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Cybertruck
Tesla Cybertruck’s head-scratching trim sold terribly, recall documents reveal
The head-scratching offering was only available for a few months, and evidently, it did not sell very well, which we all suspected. New recall documents on the vehicle from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now reveal just how poorly it sold.
After Tesla decided to build a Rear-Wheel-Drive Cybertruck trim back in 2025, which was void of many features and only featured a small discount.
The head-scratching offering was only available for a few months, and evidently, it did not sell very well, which we all suspected. New recall documents on the vehicle from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now reveal just how poorly it sold.
The recall deals with a potentially separating wheel stud and potentially impacts 173 Cybertruck units with the 18-inch steel wheels. The Cybertruck RWD was the only trim level to feature these, and the 173 potentially impacted units represented the entire population of pickups.
The NHTSA document states:
“On affected vehicles, higher severity road perturbations and cornering may strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor, causing cracks to form. If cracking propagates with continued use and strain, the wheel stud could eventually separate from the wheel hub.”
Only 5 percent are expected to be impacted, meaning less than 10 units will have the issue if the NHTSA and Tesla estimates are correct. Nevertheless, the true story here is how terribly the RWD Cybertruck sold.
Tesla ended production and stopped offering the RWD Cybertruck to customers last September. For just $10,000 less than the All-Wheel-Drive trim, Tesla offered the RWD Cybertruck with just one motor, textile seats instead of leather, only 7 speakers instead of 15, no Rear Touchscreen, no Powered Tonneau Cover for the truck bed, and no 120v/240v outlets.
For just $10,000 more, at $79,990, owners could have received all of those premium features, as well as a more capable All-Wheel-Drive powertrain that featured Adaptive Air Suspension. The discount simply was not worth the sacrifices.
Orders were few and far between, and sources told us that when it was offered, sales were extremely tempered because customers could not see the value in this trim level.
Even Tesla’s most loyal supporters thought the offering was kind of a joke, and the $10,000 extra was simply worth it.
News
Tesla Semi sends clear message to Diesel rivals with latest move
The truck is being built at a dedicated facility in Sparks, Nevada, just next to its Gigafactory Nevada facility.
Tesla has officially launched Semi production at what will be a mind-boggling rate of approximately 50,000 units per year.
The truck is being built at a dedicated facility in Sparks, Nevada, just next to its Gigafactory Nevada facility.
The company finally announced on April 29 that the first Tesla Semi truck has rolled off its new high-volume production line at the factory. This marks the transition from limited pilot builds to scaled manufacturing for the Class 8 all-electric heavy-duty truck, nearly nine years after its dramatic 2017 unveiling.
🚨 Tesla Semi mass production is underway in Nevada!
HUGE! https://t.co/ohgQIiI2bK pic.twitter.com/23GvWr8D27
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) April 29, 2026
Tesla initially promised high-volume deliveries by 2019–2020, but battery supply constraints and prioritization for passenger vehicles delayed progress. The new 1.7-million-square-foot factory, purpose-built next to Gigafactory Nevada’s 4680 cell production lines, resolves those bottlenecks through deep vertical integration.
The Semi uses Tesla’s structural battery packs with cylindrical 4680 cells manufactured on-site. This integration enables efficient supply, reduced logistics costs, and the potential for high output. The factory is designed for an eventual annual capacity of approximately 50,000 trucks, positioning Tesla to address growing demand in long-haul freight electrification.
Tesla is using a redesigned Cybertruck battery cell to mitigate Semi challenges
Operating economics favor the Semi through dramatically lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to traditional diesel rigs, and companies involved in a pilot program for the Semi with Tesla have shown that.
Electricity is far cheaper than diesel on a per-mile basis, while the electric powertrain features fewer moving parts, reducing service intervals and lifetime expenses. Early deployments with customers like PepsiCo and others have validated these advantages in real-world service.
The Nevada factory’s ramp-up is targeted for full volume output before the end of June 2026, aligning with broader Tesla production goals for 2026. This includes parallel efforts on other new vehicles while expanding the Megacharger infrastructure to support widespread adoption.
By localizing battery and truck production, Tesla gains advantages in cost, quality control, and scalability that many competitors sourcing cells externally lack. The start of high-volume Semi production represents a pivotal step in Tesla’s strategy to electrify heavy transportation, potentially accelerating the shift toward zero-emission freight across North America and beyond.
As output increases, the Semi could reshape long-haul logistics with its combination of performance, efficiency, and sustainability.
News
Tesla gives HW3 owners another massive update
It was an “at last” moment for HW 3 owners, who have waited for an update on the capabilities of their vehicles for some time. After CEO Elon Musk finally admitted last week that the HW3 vehicles would not be capable of unsupervised FSD, it appears Tesla is bringing a new, more transparent tone to those owners.
Tesla is giving Hardware 3 vehicle owners another massive update, the second major communication the company has given to those drivers after what seemed like years of being left out to dry.
The company, which plans to launch a Full Self-Driving version 14 iteration that is compatible with these cars, which have older chips, is now planning to expand the rollout of the v14 Lite offering to other markets, it said on X.
Tesla said:
“Following future rollout of FSD V14 Lite for HW3 vehicles in the US, we plan on expanding V14 Lite to additional international markets. This update ensures that HW3 vehicle owners will continue to benefit from ongoing software updates. Since international rollout is subject to several factors (completion of technical verification, regional adaptation & relevant regulatory approvals), we can’t provide definitive dates at the moment, but will provide updates on a rolling basis.”
This announcement comes at a critical time for HW3 owners, many of whom purchased Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability years ago with promises of ongoing support and future-proofing.
Following future rollout of FSD V14 Lite for HW3 vehicles in the US, we plan on expanding V14 Lite to additional international markets.
This update ensures that HW3 vehicle owners will continue to benefit from ongoing software updates.
Since international rollout is subject to…
— Tesla (@Tesla) April 29, 2026
HW3, introduced in 2019, powers vehicles from roughly 2019 to early 2023 models. While newer AI4 hardware has advanced rapidly, HW3 owners have felt increasingly left behind, with their last major update stuck around version 12.6 since early 2025.
It was an “at last” moment for HW 3 owners, who have waited for an update on the capabilities of their vehicles for some time. After CEO Elon Musk finally admitted last week that the HW3 vehicles would not be capable of unsupervised FSD, it appears Tesla is bringing a new, more transparent tone to those owners.
V14 Lite represents a significant optimization effort. Tesla has confirmed it will bring many core features of the full V14 release, currently running on more powerful hardware, to the more constrained HW3 platform.
Expected capabilities include improved handling of complex urban scenarios, better reverse driving, enhanced parking features, and smoother overall autonomy, albeit in a “lite” form tailored to HW3’s compute limits. Tesla’s head of Autopilot, Ashok Elluswamy, noted during the Q1 2026 earnings call that the update is targeted for late June in the U.S.
Tesla is releasing a modified version of FSD v14 for Hardware 3 owners: here’s when
The international expansion is particularly meaningful for owners in Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions where FSD rollout has lagged due to regulatory hurdles.
Tesla emphasized that timing remains fluid, dependent on “technical verification, regional adaptation & relevant regulatory approvals.” No firm dates were provided, but the company pledged rolling updates as milestones are achieved.
This move addresses growing concerns that Tesla might abandon legacy hardware. With the recent admission that its capabilities are limited and not capable of Tesla’s grand autonomy ambitions, owners are finally in the light of truth, with more honesty being put forth as the company navigates this chapter.
For Tesla, keeping HW3 relevant strengthens customer loyalty and protects the value of older vehicles. It also buys time as the company pushes toward broader regulatory approvals and unsupervised autonomy on newer platforms.
While V14 Lite isn’t the full unsupervised experience once promised, it delivers tangible improvements and signals that HW3 owners are not being forgotten.
As Tesla continues its rapid AI and autonomy evolution, this update underscores a key principle: software can breathe new life into existing hardware. For tens of thousands of HW3 drivers worldwide, V14 Lite could mark the beginning of a renewed era of confidence in their vehicles.
Tesla Cybertruck’s head-scratching trim sold terribly, recall documents reveal
Tesla Semi sends clear message to Diesel rivals with latest move
