Where is the gear shift located in a Tesla?
3 Answers
Tesla's gear shift is located behind the steering wheel, known as a column shifter. The operation of Tesla's column shifter is as follows: pulling up engages reverse gear, pushing down engages drive gear, a light tap in the middle puts it in neutral, and there is a chrome button on the right side of the shifter—pressing it to the left engages park (P) gear. Additionally, holding down the P gear button activates the electronic parking brake, which is recommended when parking on inclined surfaces. Introduction to Tesla: Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company that manufactures and sells electric cars, solar panels, and energy storage systems. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Tesla was founded on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. The company was named "Tesla Motors" in honor of the physicist Nikola Tesla. Tesla's Product Timeline: Tesla's first car model, the Roadster, was launched in 2008 as a two-door sports car. In 2012, Tesla released its second car model, the Model S, a four-door all-electric luxury sedan. The third model, the Model X, is a luxury all-electric SUV, with deliveries starting in September 2015. Tesla's next model, the Model 3, was unveiled in March 2016, with deliveries commencing in late 2017.
I drive a Tesla, and I know the gear shift positions vary across different models. For instance, in older models like the Model S and Model X, the gear shift lever is still on the right side of the steering column—just push it by hand to shift, not much different from traditional cars. But in newer models like the Model 3 or Model Y, it’s been changed to an operation on the central touchscreen. You need to swipe the icon in the lower-left corner of the screen to select drive, reverse, or park. For versions after 2021, some models even use steering wheel buttons for control, allowing you to switch gears with a light press. Why did Tesla design it this way? I think it’s to make driving smarter and reduce physical component failures. Plus, it integrates smoothly with autonomous driving—for example, automatically switching gears when parking, eliminating the hassle of manual shifting. Newcomers might need a few minutes to adapt, but once you get used to it, the operation becomes as fluid as using a smartphone, which is incredibly convenient.
As a Tesla owner, I've found the gear shift position quite interesting after long-term use. When I first drove the Model 3, I was used to the traditional stalk in my old car. Now it's replaced by touchscreen controls - just swipe at the bottom of the center screen, and the operation is super fast. If I forget how to do it, I can simply tap the 'Driving' option in the settings menu on the center screen to see prompts. Tesla probably designed it this way to save space and enhance the technological feel. For me, the biggest advantage is much easier parking, especially in underground mall parking lots - a gentle swipe replaces fumbling for a gear lever. Of course, cold fingers in winter might slightly affect touchscreen responsiveness, but it doesn't impact daily driving overall. It's also connected to the car's software updates - each system upgrade might optimize the interface, making gear shifting smoother, which showcases the cutting-edge design of electric vehicles.
