The proliferation of huge screens in cars has come at the expense of old-fashioned buttons. However, physical checks could make a comeback if carmakers want to achieve maximum Euro NCAP safety ratings for their cars. That’s probably the case, right? This is ultimately an excellent selling point. New rules expected to come into force in January 2026 will deduct points from vehicles that lack certain traditional controls.
The European New Car Assessment Program intends to downgrade the safety ratings of recently tested cars that do not have buttons, levers or dials for the following functions: turn signals, hazard lights, horn, wipers. ice cream and emergency call. The latter is known as the eCall function and has been mandatory in the European Union for several years. It automatically dials the local emergency number in the event of a serious car accident.
It’s a good start, but the list could be even better by adding separate controls for climate settings. Not all automakers are putting iPads on their dashboards and going out of business. Hyundai is installing more traditional controls in its cars and other brands such as Toyota haven’t really moved away from the simple layout of shortcuts on the dashboard.
Ineos probably overdoes it with knobs and buttons for just about everything, as the adjacent images of the Grenadier SUV with its cockpit-like interior show. Skoda has found what could be the perfect compromise to please accountants and car owners. The new Superb has three physical dials with built-in customizable screens, allowing you to change settings using the same dials.
Matthew Avery, Director of Strategic Development at Euro NCAP, explains why the move was made to penalize car manufacturers for forcing drivers to rely almost exclusively on screens:
“Touchscreen overuse is an industry-wide problem, with almost all automakers moving key controls to central touchscreens, forcing drivers to take their eyes off the road and increasing the risk of related accidents. to distraction. New Euro NCAP tests planned for 2026 will encourage manufacturers to use separate physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive way, thereby limiting time spent off the road and thus promoting safer driving. »
This is a safety issue since you’re forced to take your eyes off the road and navigate the many submenus of a modern infotainment system. Buttons and buttons are always in the same place on the dashboard, providing intuitive use. Screen addiction is caused by bean counters, even though automakers will never admit that it’s cheaper to put screens instead of buttons.
As good as the news may seem, it is important to note that Euro NCAP cannot effectively force car manufacturers who sell cars in Europe to reinstate regular checks. It’s an independent crash-testing organization, so it can’t force companies to go back to knobs and buttons. Such a decision should come from the European Union.
Nevertheless, we believe that all car manufacturers want to achieve a maximum rating of five stars and will therefore do their best to comply with the new regulations. Ideally, the list will grow beyond the five requirements planned for 2026. It will be interesting to see if the changes to cars sold in EU countries will impact equivalent models in North America and other countries. other markets. Creating two different interiors for the same car isn’t ideal from a business perspective, so perhaps customers outside the EU will benefit from these adjustments, provided carmakers are willing to comply .
In an interview with Automotive News Europe At CES 2023, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse declared himself “absolutely convinced” that giant screens will be banned in around ten years: “In 10 years, this will have disappeared. The regulator will probably not allow it. ” He added: “If you have to look down to drive your car, we think that’s a big mistake.” Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen, but the new Euro NCAP legislation is a step in the right direction.
