Button Comeback: Regulators Push Car Interiors Back to Physical Controls

Regulators in Europe and China are reversing the decade-long shift to touchscreen interiors. Euro NCAP will require physical controls for key functions (like turn signals, wipers, horn, hazard lights, emergency call) to qualify for five-star ratings, and China’s MIIT is drafting binding tactile-control standards by 2027. Manufacturers such as Volkswagen are already reintroducing climate and volume controls and adding rotary switches to future interiors, aiming to meet the stricter global standards across platforms, while the United States has no federal mandate yet.