Would be very surprised if there doesn't end up being a market for aftermarket mods for that sort of thing. Hopefully Tesla takes the hint and fixes it on the next iteration.
I’m genuinely confused why automakers (it’s not just Tesla but they seem to be the worst offenders) do this. Even if we get full self-driving cars tactile controls are still far superior for basic functionality to a touchscreen. For more specific operations sure, but I shouldn’t have to aim a finger mash to change the volume.
On Model S the right scroll wheel is used for climate adjustment, so perhaps in the future Tesla will make it configurable in user preferences.
All often used controls are contenders for the same constraints as well, since the more effort you have to put into locating and operating them the more time your attention is not on the road.
Sounds system volume can be essential in some circumstances, but is also used fairly often, so should be easily visible at all times (that is, you should not be able to hide it behind other panels unless it is very easy to return to the default display.
Climate controls are not essential, but also used very often, sometimes more often than sound system volume controls. They also should be visible in the default display.
A speedometer and fuel display are essential, and should always be visible.
I'm not sure how the Tesla display works, but if it allows you to cover these controls with anything and doesn't have a very simple and direct way to got back to a default display with these controls on it, I think that's not only bad design, but dangerous. Hopefully that's not the case.
Having owned a Yaris, I can tell you that it's not a problem. (It's a matter of compromise. The steering wheel can obscure the gauges in other car models.)
[1] https://fcache1.pakwheels.com/original/4X/a/0/e/a0e633fd06ce...
Most (if not all) cars with that dashboard style are budget-oriented cars. This Tesla costs well over 50,000 USD.
These are some of the most popular cars in the world, so hardly unusual.
Toyota in particular claims it's a safety feature, not a cost-saving measure [1]. Many drivers, myself included, prefer center-mounted instrument clusters. I can understand why Tesla does it.
[1] https://www.autoblog.com/2004/10/04/toyota-pushing-center-mo...
I only end up using the brake pedal at a stop sign or at the red light when I'm the first car.
The autopilot is also aware of the speed limit signs, and with Model 3 you can assign an offset (e.g. always drive at speed limit + 5).
As other people pointed out, there are other models on the market that do not have speedometers right in front of the driver, Toyota Prius being the prime example https://di-uploads-pod4.dealerinspire.com/napervilletoyota/u...
If all your friends jumped off a bridge…