Tesla’s V11 UI changes are receiving strong critical feedback from drivers

I am a Tesla fan. We have a model Y - so much fun to drive, simple elegant design. I appreciate the tradeoff of the large central screen in place of conventional gauges and controls. It's nice to have the view surrounding the car and large map view.

As a sometime UI designer, I think I understand the goal of the update: Elegance, simplicity, a less cluttered design. I do think this is at odds with functionality, however. Being a side screen without conventional tactile controls, it is important that essential functionality not be buried under multiple levels of clicks/menus, to limit the distraction time.

So while it looks cleaner now that the seat warmer control is tucked away, it is also more dangerous. I suppose this is balanced by the new feature that I can no longer be tempted to play video games while I drive, though.

On the subject of Elon, I bemoan that celebrity has been detrimental to him and the company. He clearly enjoys the spotlight and has an elevated sense of worth, which shouldn't even be possible. Shove enough microphones and cameras in a person's face and ask them enough questions outside their area of expertise, and it's almost impossible to keep them from thinking they are the most amazing person who as ever lived, "EVERY THING I SAY MUST BE GOLD!".

I keep saying that people who design touch screen UIs for cars have never seen a real car, much less sat in one or drove one.

Nothing so far has convinced me otherwise.

I'm an Elon Musk fan. I have no illusions that he's a nice guy, or even particularly mentally balanced. I just think that his accomplishments are awesome, at Tesla and especially at SpaceX.

That said, I would never buy a Tesla. From the hit-and-miss fit and finish to the touch-screen-only interface, I'm just not at all attracted to those cars. And particularly the over-the-air updates, which are apparently not only buggy, but change the interface and capabilities of the car radically, often for the worse. I don't want to drive a car that's forever in beta test mode. I like my cars dependable and predictable, which seems to be the opposite of what Tesla is selling.