“It’s a car, not a phone”: Volkswagen reintroduces physical control buttons

After several years, Volkswagen has finally admitted that the minimalist approach taken in the design of their vehicle cabins was a significant mistake.

This minimalist approach involved cramming all vehicle control functions into a central touchscreen and completely removing physical control buttons from the cabin.

In a report by Autocar, VW’s head of design Andreas Mindt acknowledged this mistake and promised to revert to a previous approach.

“Starting with the ID.2all model and beyond, we will reintroduce physical control buttons for the five most important functions – audio volume, temperature control for both the driver and passenger sides, airflow control, and hazard lights – beneath the main screen.

“This functionality will be reimplemented in every vehicle we produce. This time, we will not repeat this mistake.

“On the steering wheel, we will also bring back physical buttons. They provide feedback, create a real experience, and people will appreciate this feature.

“To be honest, it’s a car, not a phone,” he added.

The measures taken by VW are also a response to requirements set by Euro NCAP, which starting in 2026, will not allow a vehicle to achieve the maximum five-star rating unless it features physical controls for the horn, windshield wipers, turn signals, hazard lights, and SOS functions.

Since Tesla pioneered this minimalist approach, more manufacturers have attempted to follow the trend by offering simpler cabin layouts — meaning drivers must rely entirely on the screen to change necessary settings, especially while driving.

The situation has worsened with some vehicle models that do not have physical levers for turn signals, windshield wipers, or transmission.

In fact, in the name of cost savings, some manufacturers have even relocated window switches to the central console. While this creates a minimalist appearance, it ultimately complicates the user experience.