Technological progress takes two steps forward and one step back.
Muscle memory is a serious factor affecting human safety, especially when it comes to skills related to driving vehicles. Tesla’s past decision to equip the Model S and Model X electric vehicles with a “steering wheel” instead of the usual steering wheel caused a lot of criticism, and as a result, this controversial control moved from mandatory attributes to the category of options. That is, buyers who want to experiment with ergonomics can get it for an additional payment, but the Tesla steering wheel itself no longer imposes on anyone.
As Electrek explains, recipients of fresh copies of Model S and Model X note that when they order a car with a steering wheel, they discover a new modification of this control, which generally demonstrates a higher quality of assembly and finishing, and most importantly, has a classic built-in hub in the middle part sound key. In some countries, the driving culture implies frequent use of it, so drivers mechanically press on this place, and in the previous version, the Tesla steering wheel offered to sound a sound signal by pressing a touch key.
Image source: X, dkrasniy
Now the company has returned to the classic method of sounding a signal, although otherwise the technical progress imposed by Tesla has remained inexorable. Due to the disappearance of steering column switches, turn indicators and other functions still operate via touch-sensitive keys on the steering wheel spokes, although they offer touch feedback for easier “blind” manipulation.