Mercedes Ditches Touchscreens for Buttons

In a surprising reversal of more than a decade of automotive design trends, Mercedes-Benz has announced it will be reintroducing physical controls across its vehicle lineup, moving away from the screen-centered cabins that have dominated since the early 2010s. This shift signals a broader industry trend toward rethinking touchscreen-heavy interior designs as safety concerns mount.

The Mercedes-Benz U-Turn on Touchscreens

Mercedes-Benz’s decision marks a significant departure from the path the company—and much of the automotive industry—has been following since Tesla popularized the large central touchscreen approach with its Model S in 2012. At the Munich Motor Show, Magnus Östberg, chief software officer of Mercedes-Benz, confirmed the automaker’s future interiors will prioritize physical buttons and rollers rather than relying almost entirely on digital screens. “The data shows us physical buttons are better,” he told Autocar.

Implementation of these changes will begin in 2026, with redesigned steering wheels featuring dials and rockers set to become standard across all models. A company spokesperson confirmed to TechSpot that customer feedback and in-car usage data highlighted the need for change, noting that “physical controls offer superior usability and comfort for many drivers.”

Safety Concerns Take the Driver’s Seat

The primary driver behind this shift is growing research showing that touchscreens slow drivers, frustrate users, and increase safety risks. According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, programming navigation was the most distracting task, taking an average of 40 seconds for drivers to complete. The study found that none of the 40 vehicle infotainment systems produced low demand, while 29 systems generated high or very high levels of demand on drivers.

Quantifying the Distraction

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supports these findings, with studies showing that driver reaction time can increase by up to 57% when interacting with today’s sophisticated dashboard-mounted touchscreens. The MIT AgeLab has also conducted extensive research on this topic, finding that while all technology use led to some level of distraction, using a touchscreen was more distracting than using a voice-recognition system.

Perhaps the most compelling evidence comes from Swedish automotive magazine Vi Bilägare, which conducted a comparative test between older, button-heavy vehicles and modern touchscreen models. Their findings were stark: drivers using a 2005 Volvo V70 took just 10 seconds to adjust climate, radio, and navigation settings, while drivers in touchscreen-equipped cars required between 23.5 and 44.9 seconds to complete the same tasks—a difference of more than four times longer in the worst-performing vehicle.

Industry-Wide Reassessment

Mercedes-Benz is not alone in reevaluating its touchscreen strategy. Volkswagen admitted that its screen-heavy dashboards created frustrations and announced in 2025 that physical controls would return across all upcoming models. The company’s ID.2all, set to launch in 2026, will include physical buttons for the five most important interior functions: volume, heating on each side of the car, the fans, the hazard lights, and below the infotainment screen.

Hyundai has also moved away from its touchscreen-centric approach after customer feedback indicated dissatisfaction with the interface. The automaker’s US design chief acknowledged that American drivers particularly disliked the trend, leading to a return to more traditional physical controls for HVAC and music functions in upcoming models.

Regulatory Pressure Mounts

Regulatory bodies are also playing a role in this shift. Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) has announced that beginning in January 2026, vehicles seeking the highest safety ratings will need to incorporate physical controls for essential functions. This includes indicators, hazard lights, horn, windscreen wipers, and emergency call features. Cars that place these critical controls solely behind touchscreens will face penalties in their safety assessments, potentially losing stars in the coveted Euro NCAP rating system.

This regulatory shift reflects mounting evidence that touchscreens can significantly increase driver distraction. Euro NCAP’s decision to require physical controls for basic safety functions indicates official recognition of the risks associated with touchscreen interfaces in vehicles.

The Rise and Fall of Touchscreen Dominance

The journey to this point has been somewhat cyclical. Vehicle touchscreens have existed for decades, with Buick introducing an early version in the 1986 Riviera that drivers quickly rejected. Mainstream adoption came after Tesla’s Model S placed a 17-inch vertical display at the center of its design in 2012. This approach proved cheaper for manufacturers—replacing many physical parts with software-driven controls—and allowed them to market vehicles as futuristic.

Throughout the 2010s, nearly all major automakers embraced screens for audio, climate, navigation, and safety functions. However, as the technology matured, problems became more apparent. Tesla itself faced issues, recalling 158,000 vehicles in 2021 due to failing touch displays. Complaints also grew over screen-driven menus that required multiple taps for basic adjustments, leading to increased driver frustration and, more importantly, increased distraction times.

Looking Forward: A Tactile Future

The return to physical controls doesn’t represent a complete abandonment of modern technology but rather a refinement of how drivers interact with their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and other manufacturers are finding a balance between the capabilities of digital interfaces and the proven usability of physical controls for frequently used functions.

As we move into 2026 and beyond, this trend toward physical controls is likely to continue, driven by both consumer demand and regulatory requirements. The automotive industry’s brief love affair with screen-only interfaces appears to be ending, with tactile feedback and intuitive controls taking their rightful place in the driver-focused cockpit. This shift may seem like a step backward, but in reality, it’s a return to smart design principles that prioritize safety and usability over technological novelty.

The implications of this trend extend beyond mere convenience. As vehicles become increasingly automated, the need for reliable, immediate access to critical controls becomes more important, not less. Physical buttons provide that reliability, ensuring drivers can maintain focus on the road while still having quick access to essential functions. In an era where even mundane tasks can become dangerous distractions, sometimes the old ways truly are the best ways.

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