"For years, Mercedes-Benz has relied on touchscreens as the command center of its vehicles. Is it too hot? Tap the screen to set the AC temperature. Want to listen to the news? Tap. Defrost the rear window? Tap, tap, tap. While the automaker has retained some physical controls in its cars, its modern user experience is effectively built around the screen."
"But that's about to change. Magnus Östberg, chief software officer for Mercedes-Benz, recently announced that the company would be centering future car design around physical controls instead of screens. "The data shows us physical buttons are better," Östberg told Autocar at the Munich motor show. He says Mercedes will begin integrating more physical controls into its digitally focused cabins starting in 2026. Mercedes' announcement is part of a bigger industry trend..."
Mercedes-Benz long used touchscreens as the central interface for climate, audio, navigation, and other in-car functions, requiring multiple taps for simple tasks like adjusting temperature or defrosting windows. The automaker retained some physical controls but optimized modern cabin UX around large digital displays. Future vehicle design will refocus on tactile controls, integrating more physical buttons and switches into digitally equipped cabins beginning in 2026. Internal data indicates that physical buttons offer superior usability or effectiveness. The shift toward tangible controls reflects a wider automotive industry trend rebalancing digital interfaces with traditional hardware for improved driver interaction.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]