Mercedes brings back physical buttons for current and future models

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Despite advancing digitalization, Mercedes-Benz wants to bring more physical controls back into its vehicles. "The data shows that physical buttons are better," software chief Magnus Östberg told Autocar. The first models with a greater number of buttons are the new GLC and the CLA Shooting Brake.

First, more buttons on the steering wheel

According to Östberg, the new electric car models will feature "a variety of rocker switches, rotary controls, and buttons on a newly designed steering wheel." This steering wheel is set to become standard for Mercedes models in the future. The manufacturer also wants to install it in newly produced models of vehicles that have already been unveiled – starting this year with the recently unveiled CLA sedan, the software boss told Autocar. According to Östberg, this solution is the simplest and most cost-effective way to equip vehicles already on sale with physical controls while retaining Mercedes' digitally oriented interiors.

The head of software at the Stuttgart-based carmaker went on to say that it was extremely important to find "a balance between physical buttons and touchscreens". Mercedes-Benz is completely guided by data and recognizes from this that physical buttons are better for frequently used functions.

According to Östberg, Mercedes is considering adding more physical controls to the interior in future models. However, these could most likely be limited to SUVs, as there is "more freedom of design" in larger vehicles and buyers of these vehicles "place more value on buttons".

VW is also bringing back buttons

Mercedes-Benz is not the first German car manufacturer to want to bring physical controls back into the car. VW's head of design Andreas Mindt said earlier this year that all future Volkswagen models will once again have physical controls for the most important functions. One of the first models to experience this rollback was the VW ID.Polo, which was still called the ID.2all concept at the time.

The fact that the focus on touchscreens in vehicles was basically never a good idea was shown, for example, by a test conducted by the German automobile club ADAC, in which six vehicles were tested based on their controls. The Tesla Model 3 came in last place. Tesla's operating concept was criticized in the test because almost all functions can only be operated via the screen. This is distracting, said the ADAC.

NCAP: "Bring Back Buttons"

The independent consumer protection institution NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), an association of transport ministries, car clubs and insurers that assesses the safety of cars, is also in favour of moving away from operation via capacitive buttons and screens. Giant screens do not contribute to road safety, said Matthew Avery, Director of Strategic Development at Euro NCAP.

His organization therefore wants to introduce new criteria for evaluating the human-machine interface in cars: To make driving safer, car manufacturers are to use more mechanical buttons again. The new criteria are to be incorporated into the NCAP safety assessment from 2026. It therefore seems that the return of buttons at Mercedes and VW is, in a sense, a measure to achieve the highest possible NCAP score.

(afl)