It is also an example of a key project at Tesla that has rolled ahead even as Chief Executive Musk has focused on his troubled acquisition of Twitter in recent months, an area of concern for Tesla investors. Tesla did not respond to a written request for comment from Reuters. Change you can see The redesign for the Model 3 builds on the revamp of the Model S — Tesla’s premium EV sedan — that was released last year. That redesign added an airplane-style yoke in place of a traditional steering wheel and removed buttons and traditional air vents as part of a minimalist interior where the centerpiece is a 17-inch electronic display. The Model 3, Tesla’s cheapest EV starting at just under $47,000 in the United States, had been the automaker’s best-seller but is being overtaken by the Model Y crossover. With only four models in production, styling changes to any part of Tesla’s lineup carry an outsized importance compared to established automakers. Ed Kim, president of AutoPacific Group, which tracks market trends and production, said the current Model 3 has already been updated from the version that first went on sale in 2017 because of the way Tesla updates battery performance, information and entertainment options through software, even if it still looks the same. The redesign comes as Elon Musk’s Tesla Model 3 faces increased competition from models from the likes of China’s BYD, Hyundai and coming releases from other major automakers. via REUTERS “Having said that, consumers still tend to equate visual changes with newness,” he said. “Tesla knows visually tangible changes are in order.” “The upcoming changes that potential customers can see and feel will be very important in ensuring that EV customers still have Tesla at the top of their minds as truly excellent alternatives to Tesla are starting to flood the market,” he said. Keep it simple Musk has pushed a simplified approach to design and production at Tesla that the Highland project extends, said the people with knowledge of the development. See Also