China says no to all-touch: buttons are making a big comeback in cars
- Published on 30/08/2026 7:24
After years of a race for giant screens and minimalist interiors, China is radically changing direction. By 2027, 19 essential functions will need to have a genuine physical control.
An enormous screen placed in the middle of the dashboard and almost no buttons left: this recipe has become the signature of many modern cars, especially electric ones. But the trend may have reached its limits. And the halt comes precisely from China, one of the countries that has pushed the digitalization of interiors the furthest.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has established new requirements mandating physical controls for 19 essential functions. The new approvals will need to comply starting in July 2027.
Long live the buttons!
Indicators, hazard lights, horn, windshield wipers, defrosting, power windows, and gear selection for P, R, N, and D are among those concerned. The activation of certain driving aids and the emergency call must also remain accessible without having to navigate through the menus of a screen.
Buttons large enough to be used without looking
China is even going into great detail. The controls must remain in a fixed location and offer a usable surface of at least 10 x 10 mm, unless they can be clearly identified by touch. This is a deliberate return to traditional ergonomics, with the goal of allowing the driver to use essential functions without taking their eyes off the road.
The change is symbolic. In recent years, Tesla and many Chinese manufacturers have multiplied minimalist interiors where a large part of the controls migrated to the central screen.
China is not alone in questioning this evolution. Since 2026, Euro NCAP has also valued the presence of physical controls for certain essential functions in its new rating protocol.
After invading our cars, screens are not going to disappear. But the good old button, which many thought was doomed, is indeed preparing for a comeback.
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This page is translated from the original post "La Chine dit stop au tout-tactile : les boutons vont faire leur grand retour dans les voitures" in French.
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