Understanding Tesla Minimalisms.

The thought came to me while answering some questions on Quora, and it made my head think, “Why doesn’t Tesla make a luxury car, or at least make the interior better?”

I once got into a model 3, and honestly, the interior was quite disappointing for a car that is priced around USD 80,000 in Indonesia. The interior seemed spartan, and there was no luxurious impression at all. I even noticed the dashboard material was exactly the same as cheap cars in Indonesia priced around USD 11,000; there is nothing luxurious about a Tesla.

Just look at the interior of the model X; it is far from luxurious, and for a car with a base price of USD 80,000, I don’t think it’s excessive if we want something more luxurious. At least they can design the interior better, and this is a suggestion or criticism from a petrolhead. Yes,maybe we’re not on the same page, but you understand what I mean.

I’m sure Tesla could do better than that. I mean, after looking at the interior of the Audi Q8 e-Tron, I think Tesla could do that. The interior of the E-Tron is much better, and the luxurious impression is very pronounced, especially in the door trim and dashboard. I’ve never seen the e-Tron in person, but I think the interior is way better than the Model X.

I just revisited my experience with the Model 3 some time ago when the car was presented at an exhibition, and it seems that I began to understand Tesla, and to be honest, I admire it now. It was simple because they don’t sell interiors or designs; it is a sophisticated car and could be the pinnacle in the EV world. Yes, I know maybe my words are a bit exaggerated, but that’s what was on my mind at that time.

Suddenly, the spartan and featureless interior of the Model 3 made me gasp in awe. Who needs a large infotainment screen with luxurious seats and interiors if, basically, what you are driving is the future? There are indeed many EVs on the market, but I began to understand what Tesla is trying to give us. They provide simplicity with technology that is interesting for all of us, which increasingly makes me understand the minimalist approach to their cars.

The Model 3 I sat in only had one large infotainment screen in the middle. There was no speedometer behind the steering wheel like in common cars, but I understand why. The essence of driving is in the experience, and maybe that’s what Tesla is giving, especially for some things, including the technology they provide. It seems they want to tell us that sometimes less is more. By not being too fixated on the luxurious interior or sophisticated technology in the cabin, we can understand their philosophy.

I searched for examples on the Internet, and the interior of the Mercedes EQS is a fitting example of luxury. Clear and sophisticated? No doubt, but somehow it leaves out the essence of driving. We become too focused and lulled by technology and forget that it is a car that should be appreciated and felt; those technological comforts should appear as something that can be enjoyed and felt but not interfere with or alter the real experience, and I feel that after that I can understand about Tesla and why they don’t make their cars very sophisticated and luxurious.

Its about driving, the same thing you can get in the Ferrari F40 in the 1980s; there is no power-assisted anything, and the car tends to be plain or spartan; there is not even cabin dampening that is usually found in cheap cars; it is an experience, and those are things that Ferrari emphasized at that time, and I think it is also what Tesla sells.

And now I can understand Tesla. They are not a luxury car manufacturer that can install exotic interior materials along with top-tier infotainment; they are like Ferrari, where what they provide is the essence of driving an EV without any distractions from excessive gadgets. They install those bare minimum systems to be able to make us enjoy the feeling or experience of a real EV, and it is very interesting.

Maybe they will change in a few years by installing a luxurious interior along with its knick-knacks, but if you happen to have any type of Tesla, try to understand the interior and its essence. They don’t need to make a luxurious or sophisticated car; what they make is an EV car with attractive performance and great technology. Besides, that is not their goal the same as when Ferrari made the F40 a few decades ago; what they show is their engineering prowess and ability in that regard.

I am not a fan of EVs, but now I can understand and respect Tesla. It is not a car that should be advertised; you have to go there and try it yourself. Maybe one day I will try it and, if possible, own one. What is clear is that I now appreciate the minimalism approach they take.