- Europe’s Euro NCAP and China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are pushing for the return of physical buttons on cars.
- New safety guidelines require critical functions—such as turn signals, hazard lights, and emergency calls—to have touch controls.
- Big brands are reintroducing or reconsidering physical controls.
In recent years, technology has moved beyond vehicle interiors, with large touchscreens, minimalist interfaces, and fewer physical buttons than ever before. Automakers are embracing this trend due to lower production costs and increased customer demand—but this is already starting to backfire.
More and more drivers are shunning in-car touchscreens, while safety experts have expressed concerns that reliance on digital interfaces could distract drivers, especially in situations where split-second reactions are critical. Europe and China, two of the world’s largest and most influential auto markets, are leading efforts to ensure that digitalization of car cabins does not compromise safety.
Europe Reintroduces Buttons
ID Volkswagen. Polo interior
Photo by: Volkswagen
In Europe, the debate over touch controls has resurfaced with the Euro NCAP safety rating protocol update, which goes into effect in January 2026. The independent organization—known for its crash tests and vehicle safety scores—now prohibits cabins that rely solely on touchscreens.
To earn the coveted five-star rating, a car must have physical controls for key functions: turn signals, windshield wipers, hazard lights, horn and emergency call. Vehicles that perform this function solely via the touchscreen will lose points.
Euro NCAP guidelines are not legally binding, but their commercial impact is significant: a five-star rating is a key marketing asset, and few manufacturers can afford to ignore it.
Reduce Distractions Behind the Wheel
Tesla Model Y Standard Interior
Photo by: Tesla
The reason is clear: the more drivers have to scroll through menus to perform basic functions, the longer their eyes are on the road. This increases the risk of accidents—especially in emergencies or when the system is slow or stalled.
Europe’s approach is now mirrored by China, the world’s fastest-moving and most technology-driven automotive market. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has proposed a draft regulation that would require physical buttons for critical safety functions.
According to the draft—which is currently open for public consultation—turn signals, hazard lights, gear selection and emergency calls must be able to be operated via tactile controls with a minimum surface area of 10×10 millimeters. The goal is simple: keep important functions easily accessible so drivers can act without taking their eyes off the road.
China, From Everywhere
Photo by: BYD
This shift is most striking in China—the country that has most aggressively embraced screen-dominated interiors, following the Tesla model that many local brands are emulating. Now, the priority returns to usability and security.
The new guidelines are already affecting car manufacturers. Volkswagen admitted that relying too much on touchscreens was “a mistake” and reintroduced physical buttons for key functions on new electric vehicles. Mercedes-Benz states that traditional buttons are still the best solution for certain operations, while Hyundai is taking a hybrid approach, combining knobs and buttons for the most frequently used controls.
Even Tesla, long a model for all-touch interiors, is reportedly considering bringing back traditional turn signals on some models.
China’s push is not limited to interiors. The government is also planning stricter standards for Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems, which would require safety levels comparable to human drivers and the vehicle’s ability to stop if problems arise.
The result is a convergence between two major markets—Europe and China—with the same conclusion: car digitalization cannot come at the expense of ergonomics and safety. After years of racing toward bigger screens, the industry seems ready to rediscover a simple but important principle: for some functions, physical buttons remain the most intuitive, fast, and safest solution.
Motorcycle Pickup1: It’s great to see buttons making their way back into the cabin of modern vehicles. Europe and China are leading this effort with aggressive new security measures, and hopefully the United States will follow suit.
