Automakers are facing pressure to bring back physical buttons due to concerns about faulty screens.
European automakers are redesigning car interiors after EuroNCAP updated its safety assessment protocols in January to move away from using touchscreens exclusively for basic driving tasks, continuing discussions about driver distraction related to touchscreens, Automotive News reported.
Starting this year, physical controls for functions such as turn signals, wipers, emergency lights, alarm and SOS calls will be required to receive a five-star safety rating, and cars relying solely on touchscreens will be stripped of points under the voluntary program. Similar rules may become mandatory in China, where the proposed rules would require fixed buttons or switches for turn signals, emergency lights, gear selection, and emergency calls.
These changes are becoming a problem for manufacturers seeking minimalism in the interior, amid concerns that navigating the touchscreen menu for basic functions increases the risk of accidents. The new Volkswagen ID Polo now has physical controls for basic functions and a rotary knob for audio, after the company's chief designer admitted that reliance on the touchscreen was a "mistake." Mercedes —Benz is introducing steering wheels with physical switches and buttons in the new GLC and CLA models, while Hyundai retains handles for frequently used functions. Tesla plans to turn the physical turn signal levers in some models, while BMW will retain push-button controls for basic safety functions despite its new Panoramic iDrive system. Automakers have three years to adapt the interiors in accordance with the criteria of the highest rating of EuroNCAP.