Tesla downplays removal of RHD vehicles in UK with The Reacher grabbing stick for Model S & Model X owners

It appears as though Tesla is attempting to placate Model X and Model S buyers in right-hand-drive markets where it sells left-hand-drive vehicles. According to Electrek, Tesla is including a free grabbing stick called The Reacher with recent orders of its premium electric vehicles. The idea behind the device is that drivers can use it to reach across the passenger seat to interact with infrastructure like ticket booths and drive-through takeaway restaurants.

The Reacher seems to be at least partially in jest — a move that does a good job of minimising the inconvenience and potential safety issues involved with driving a left-hand-drive car on roads designed for right-hand-drive vehicles. Others have pointed out that it's insulting to include such a cheap, makeshift solution when the vehicle costs in excess of US$100,000. To make matters worse, the cheaper, more successful Model Y and Model 3 EVs are still available as RHD variants in the UK and other RHD markets.

Overall, while initial response to Tesla's move to ditch right-hand-drive cars in the UK was mixed, with some owners outright cancelling their orders as a result. Those that remain have mostly received Tesla's "gift" in good spirits, although there are those that pointed out that almost every other car maker makes RHD cars in RHD markets where they operate. Tesla never did address why it stopped taking orders for the Model X and Model S in right-hand-drive markets, but it's plain to see that there is a demand issue.

It's been reported that upcoming Tesla models will be equipped with steer-by-wire, which would conceivably be easier and cheaper to adapt to right-hand-drive models, although it remains to be seen if Tesla will reintroduce RHD vehicles in the relevant markets.

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