Volkswagen is reintroducing physical buttons in its vehicles for volume control, heating, hazard lights, and fan speed, as touchscreens have been found to distract drivers.
A survey of 1,428 drivers found that 89% prefer physical buttons over touchscreens, while 60% reported being distracted while driving due to touchscreen controls.
Moreover, three in five respondents said they would be less likely to buy a car that lacks traditional buttons and switches on the dashboard, relying primarily on a touchscreen system.
From 2026, vehicles without buttons or switches for essential functions, such as turn signals, will receive lower crash test ratings.
Other companies, including the Chinese MG and the Korean Hyundai, have stated they will follow Volkswagen’s example.
Volkswagen’s decision came after driver criticism, with nine out of ten calling for car manufacturers to replace touchscreens in new models with physical buttons and switches.
VW acknowledged customer feedback, admitted its mistake with touchscreen systems, and stated that it would “never make this mistake again.”
