Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged that it went too far in removing physical buttons from its vehicles, announcing a shift back toward more tactile controls while keeping its large displays in place.
The automaker said it heard public sentiment and realized it may have overdone the removal of buttons, according to CEO Ola Källenius. He remarked that the industry as a whole might have gone a little too far with digital controls, including voice commands.
So from now on, you will see us reintroduce the most sensible buttons.
Källenius said the company sometimes gets ahead of itself and does 'technology for the sake of technology,' forgetting a little bit about the customer. He added that changes made solely for the sake of technology have strained users, prompting a strategic change that prioritizes user experience.
I don't know if we're at peak screen, but we're at low button.
Future Mercedes-Benz models will bring back more physical controls for key functions, a design philosophy already applied in the new GLA model. The automaker has also started to reintroduce physical buttons on steering wheels.
The decision comes after serious criticism from car enthusiasts over the large screens in the automaker's new-generation vehicles. The difficulty of using touch panels while driving influenced the move, according to reports. Mercedes-Benz maintains that customers still love giant displays, and screens are not going anywhere.
The design updates aim to give drivers faster and safer access to in-car functions. The strategic change reflects a growing backlash against touchscreens across the automotive world, where digitalization has led many automakers to replace physical controls with touchscreens in recent years.
The Drive's author, who tested the new electric Mercedes-Benz CLA a few months ago, noted the shift. A similar design philosophy is expected to be adopted in future models, according to the automaker.