Tesla’s steering yoke is A-OK, says British government

Tesla is wild yoke steering wheel is legal for British roads after the Department of Transportation told the Sunday Times that the regulations do not determine the shape or size of the steering wheel. The short-and-sweet response seems to pave the way for the latest Tesla Model S and Model X updates with the yoke wheel to hit local UK roads.

Auto Express reported on the newspaper’s report, adding that UK regulations allow any steering gear as long as it meets the requirements of the Department of Transport for excessive movement for the steering gear concerned. The department did not immediately return the request for comment on Roadshow. But his blunt response to the Sunday Times comes in stark contrast to the US government that told Roadshow last week wants to talk to Tesla over the yoke steering wheel.

The National Road Safety Administration told Roadshow that it “could not determine whether the steering wheel complies with federal motor vehicle safety standards.” This is not to say that the yoke does not meet the standards, but regulators still need to make the call. NHTSA did not immediately return a follow-up request for comment if discussions were still ongoing.

We are not regulators, but editor-in-chief Tim Stevens has already talked about why the yoke is not a beautiful setback, but maybe a security issue – just like we all want to live out our KITT fantasies.

Refreshed Tesla Model S has a Knight Rider steering wheel

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