Tesla Wants You To Pay For What They Took Away Now

• Tesla introduces a retrofit kit adding a turn signal stalk to Model 3s.
• Included with the stalk is a new steering wheel and control module.
• The US rollout comes shortly after it became available in China.

Tesla’s latest move feels like a rare moment of self-awareness from a brand known for doubling down on its bad decisions. After years of criticism for removing traditional turn signal stalks from the Model 3, the company has finally relented and reintroduced them to the lineup.

What started as a questionable design experiment now has a costly fix, and this time, the solution comes straight from Tesla itself.

Read: Tesla Quietly Brings Back Turn Signal Stalks To Model 3 After Years Of Complaints

A couple of months ago, the carmaker started selling a turn signal stalk for its electric sedan in China, and last week, it introduced an updated Model 3 in select Asian markets that comes with the stalk as standard.

Sticker Shock

In the US, the stalk costs $595, which is the equivalent of 1.6 percent of the total purchase price of the new entry-level Model 3 Standard, though that one does include it.

That’s quite a lot of money, particularly since Tesla is only charging its Chinese customers 2,499 yuan, or around $350. Additionally, a small aftermarket startup, Enhance Auto, introduced its own turn signal stalks for the Model 3 last year and was able to price them between $343 and $363.

However, it’s important to note that Tesla doesn’t simply provide a signal stalk. Shoppers who make the purchase through the Tesla App will also receive a new steering wheel, which ditches the standard turn signal buttons.

Additionally, a new steering column control module has to be added to make the stalk functional. Installation fees are also included in the price.

Tesla says its retrofit package is compatible only with Model 3s built in 2024 and 2025 that were originally sold without a turn signal. From what we understand, the stalk is expected to return as standard equipment on all 2026 models, although that could vary depending on the production date.

While Tesla is unlikely to admit that ditching the turn signal stalk was a bad idea on the Model 3, the fact that the Model Y Juniper is sold with a stalk as standard tells us all we need to know. Tesla has clearly realized that it took minimalism a little too far.

The Auto World