Volkswagen has finally realized what most drivers already know: cramming every car function into a touchscreen is a nightmare. The company’s design director, Andreas Mindt, has confirmed that future Volkswagen models, starting with the ID.2all, will feature physical buttons for essential functions. It might seem like a no-brainer, but better late than never.
In late 2022, Volkswagen made a bold and unpopular decision to remove all traditional physical buttons and replace them with touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. Unsurprisingly, this led to a slew of customer complaints.
Following the unveiling of the ID.2all concept car in 2023, Volkswagen admitted its mistake and promised to revert to a more button-centric interior design. Now, Mindt has revealed details about the company’s new direction.
The Volkswagen ID.2all
In an interview with Autocar magazine, Mindt asserted that the next generation of Volkswagen vehicles will have physical buttons for the five most commonly used functions: volume control, seat heating, fan, and hazard lights. The buttons for controlling these features will be located just below the infotainment screen, so drivers won’t have to navigate through multiple menus just to turn on their seat heaters, for instance. He also confirmed that this change will be implemented “for all cars that we produce from now on. We’ve realized that.”
In a rare moment of candor, Volkswagen’s design director admitted that his predecessor’s strategy was flawed: “We will never, ever make that mistake again. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No more guessing, but a real, clear feedback, and customers like that. To be honest, it’s a car, not a phone. It’s a car!“
Volkswagen Acknowledges the Touchscreen Disaster and Brings Back Physical Buttons
The first car to feature a row of buttons below the infotainment screen will be the compact electric car, Volkswagen ID.2all, expected to launch in 2026. The production version of the ID.Every1 concept, slated for a 2027 release, will also use a similar layout.
This means that Volkswagen will finally do away with the touch sliders currently used for volume control, zooming in on navigation maps, and adjusting the air conditioning temperature. These sliders are present in many Volkswagen Group models, including the updated Golf. If you’ve ever tried to adjust the temperature on a touchscreen while driving, you’ll understand why this change is imperative.
However, Mindt affirmed that touchscreens aren’t going away entirely: “There are so many functions that you have to offer in certain areas, so the screen will still be big. But the five main functions will always be operated by physical controls. That’s very important.”
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