

Tesla Model S
Tesla’s Yoke Steering Wheel remains a mystery with owners and employees
Tesla’s Yoke Steering Wheel was among the most talked-about changes with the Model S and Model X Refresh teaser images that were shared in late January. Months after the racing-style steering column was announced, it still remains a mystery. Its more specific details, like what cars it will be included with, remain undetailed by Tesla or CEO Elon Musk, and owners want answers.
The Model S and Model X were due for a Refresh. It has been several years since Tesla had made any real revisions worth noting to its two flagship cars. After photographs revealed the two vehicles would undergo a major interior overhaul, many enthusiasts chose to order the vehicle, enticed by its new center screen, updated HVAC system, and world-class performance specifications.
Some were up in the air about the inclusion of a Yoke Steering Wheel, however. While some were interested and enthusiastic about Tesla’s choice to include it, others aren’t too sure about what to think, and whether the Yoke will be a standard feature still remains a big question. Some owners have reached out to Teslarati with curiosity, wondering when their vehicle will be ready and whether they will have their hands on a half-steering wheel instead of a full-circle column.
While The Kilowatts said that all Model S Refresh vehicles, including the Long Range variant, will include the Yoke wheel, the answer isn’t definite. Several Tesla showrooms remain conflicted on what the automaker is planning. Some agree with The Kilowatts and claim that all three of the new Model S variants will include the Yoke.
Oh and a sales advisor told us with confidence that all new Model S vehicles will come with the Yoke steering. We asked him almost a dozen times to clarify and if it was alright to share this news and he said yes! More on this in the video above!☝?
— The Kilowatts ?⚡️ (@klwtts) April 8, 2021
Others have said that the Yoke will only be available with the Plaid and Plaid+ variants, and others simply have no clue. Teslarati spoke with several different Tesla showrooms around the country today, all of the conversations just confirming that nobody really knows what the ultimate plan for the Yoke is. One showroom said all three Model S vehicles would equip the Yoke because the online design studio shows all three cars with a Yoke, leaving out the option of a full-circle steering wheel. Another showroom location said Tesla had not detailed any steering wheel design options.
Tesla is yet to deliver any of its new Model S or X vehicles to customers. Elon Musk told us recently that the Plaid variants still had “many fine details to address,” so it could be a simple bottleneck on Tesla’s end that is keeping them from communicating what the options will be. Whatever the decision, government agencies, like the NHTSA, will not interfere, as they have found no issues with Tesla’s Yoke Steering Wheel, confirming it is compliant with safety standards.
Still many fine details to address, but the final product will be fantastic. There’s nothing else even close.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2021
News
This signature Tesla feature is facing a ban in one of its biggest markets
The report indicates that Chinese government agencies have concerns “about failure rates and safety issues with the flush design.”

A signature Tesla feature is under fire in one of the company’s largest markets, as regulators in one EV hot spot are mulling the potential ban of a design the automaker implemented on some of its vehicles.
Tesla pioneered the pop-out door handle on its Model S back in 2012, and CEO Elon Musk felt the self-presenting design was a great way to feel like “you’re part of the future.”
It is something that is still present on current Model S designs, while other vehicles in the Tesla lineup have a variety of handle aesthetics.
According to Chinese media outlet Mingjing Pro, the company, along with others using similar technology, is facing scrutiny on the design as regulators consider a ban on the mechanism. These restrictions would impact other companies that have utilized pop-out handles on their own designs; Tesla would not be the only company forced to make changes.
The report indicates that Chinese government agencies have concerns “about failure rates and safety issues with the flush design.”
However, EVs are designed to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, which is the main reason for this design. It is also the reason that many EVs utilize wheel covers, and sleek and flowing shapes.
However, the Chinese government is not convinced, as they stated the aerodynamic improvements are “minimal,” and safety issues are “significantly elevated,” according to The Independent.
The issue also seems to be focused on how effective the handle design is. According to data, one EV manufacturer, which was not specified in the report, has 12 percent of its total repairs are door handle failure fixes.
There are also concerns about the handles short-circuiting, leaving passengers trapped within cars. Tesla has implemented emergency latch releases in its vehicles that would prevent passengers from getting stuck in their cars in cases of electric malfunctions or failures.
However, evidence from the Chinese Insurance Automotive Technology Research Institute (C-IASI) suggests that 33 percent of door handles using this design fail to function after a side impact.
Obviously, Tesla and other automakers could introduce an alternative design to those vehicles that are affected by the potential restrictions China intends to impose. The regulation would take effect in July 2027.
News
Tesla pushes crazy ‘Luxe’ incentive package on flagship Model S and X
Tesla is pushing more customers to the Model S and Model X with a new incentive package.

Tesla has pushed a crazy new incentive package, known as the “Luxe Package,” on the flagship Model S and Model X, along with a $10,000 price increase on each trim level.
The move aims to likely bolster margins for the company on the two cars while also giving those who choose to buy the Tesla lineup mainstays a variety of awesome advantages, including Free Supercharging, Full Self-Driving, and other add-ons.
Tesla is offering a crazy Supercharging incentive on its two ‘sentimental’ vehicles
Last night, Tesla launched the “Luxe Package” for the Model S and Model X, which includes the following four add-ons:
- Full Self-Driving (Supervised) – Your car will be able to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention
- Four-Year Premium Service – Wheel and Tire Protection, Windshield Protection, and Recommended Maintenance
- Supercharging – Charge for free at 70,000+ Superchargers worldwide
- Premium Connectivity – Listen to music, stream movies, monitor live traffic, and more – no Wi-Fi needed
Full Self-Driving is priced at $8,000. Free Supercharging for the life of the car is between $10,000 and $15,000 over the life of the vehicle, although Tesla has valued it at $5,000 in recent promotions.
Free Premium Connectivity is roughly $1,000, and the four-year tire, wheel, windshield, and maintenance plan is about $3,200.
🚨 Tesla increased the price of both the Model S and Model X by $10,000, but both vehicles now include the “Luxe Package,” which includes:
-Full Self-Driving
-Four years of included maintenance, tire and wheel repairs, and windshield repairs/replacements
-Free lifetime… pic.twitter.com/LKv7rXruml— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 16, 2025
In all, the value is over $25,000, but this is loosely based on usage.
The Model S and Model X are low contributors to Tesla’s overall sales figures, as they make up less than five percent of sales from a quarterly perspective and have for some time.
As they are certainly the luxury choices in Tesla’s lineup, the Model 3 and Model Y are the bigger focus for the company, as a significantly larger portion of the company’s sales is made up of those vehicles.
The Luxe Package is an especially good idea for those who drive high-mileage and plan to use the Model S or Model X for commuting or long drives. The free Supercharging makes the deal worth it on its own.
As for the price bumps, each of the vehicles are now priced as follows:
- Model S All-Wheel-Drive: $94,990
- Model S Plaid: $109,990
- Model X All-Wheel-Drive: $99,990
- Model X Plaid: $114,990
News
Tesla takes first step in sunsetting Model S and X with drastic move
Tesla won’t be taking custom orders of the Model S or Model X in Europe any longer.

Tesla has seemingly taken the first step in sunsetting two of its older vehicles, the Model S and Model X, by ending international orders.
The flagship sedan and SUV from Tesla are the two oldest cars in the company’s lineup. They account for a very small portion of overall sales, and several years ago, CEO Elon Musk admitted that Tesla only continues to build and sell them due to “sentimental reasons.”
Earlier this year, there were calls for Tesla to end the production of the two cars, but Lars Moravy said that the Model S and Model X were due to get some love later in 2025. That happened, but the changes were extremely minor.
Tesla launches new Model S and Model X, and the changes are slim
Some took this as an indication that Tesla has kind of moved on from the Model S and Model X. A handful of people seemed to think Tesla would overhaul the vehicles substantially, but the changes were extremely minor and included only a few real adjustments.
In Europe, customers are unable to even put a new order in on a Model S or Model X.
We noticed earlier today that Tesla pressing the ‘Order’ button on either of the flagship vehicles takes you to local inventory, and not the Design Studio where you’d configure your custom build:
🚨 Tesla has removed the Model S and Model X Design Configurators from European customers
It will now bring up available inventory for those two vehicles instead of allowing you to build your own config pic.twitter.com/sMnGAr2kuu
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 30, 2025
Tesla simply does not make enough Model S or Model X units to justify the expensive logistics process of shipping custom orders overseas. It almost seems as if they’re that they will essentially build a bunch of random configurations, send them overseas every few months, and let them sell before replenishing inventory.
Inversely, it could also mean Tesla is truly gearing up to sunset the vehicle altogether. It seems unlikely that the company will fade them out altogether in the next couple of years, but it could absolutely think about ending international orders because volume is so low.
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