Steering Wheel Option Returns to Tesla Model S and X

Tesla Model S and Model X customers can again order a traditional steering wheel in place of Tesla's non-canonical steering yoke.

The Tesla online configurator now shows the steering wheel as a free option alongside the yoke. It appears in the "Interior" section, where customers also select the interior color.

The York was introduced in 2021 as part of a refresh of the Model S and Model X, with a horizontal central touchscreen like the Model 3 and the introduction of the Plaid Performance variant.

Initially, it was unclear whether Tesla was serious about shipping cars with airplane-shaped steering instruments, but the first yoke-equipped cars were delivered to customers in June 2021. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one person's opinion quickly changed from liking the yoke to complaining about the awkward steering. [One would not expect awkwardness in a car like the Model S Plaid, which has a 1,020-horsepower three-motor powertrain and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just under 2.0 seconds.

Despite its shortcomings, other automakers have jumped on the York bandwagon.

BMW filed a patent for a yoke steering wheel in 2022. This design, which incorporates folding grips, allows for more space, BMW said in its patent application. However, BMW has not mentioned any plans to use the yoke in production vehicles.

Lexus actually took a leap forward by adding the yoke to its RZ 450e electric crossover. Unlike other yoke applications, however, the Lexus version is designed for use with a steer-by-wire system and has proven to work quite well. The yoke and steer-by-wire system, however, are not yet available in the U.S. The RZ 450e will be available in the U.S. as a 2023 model, but with a conventional steering wheel.