China wants to bring back buttons to cars - touchscreens may lose some functions

China is considering a significant shift in automotive interior design, proposing regulations that would bring back physical buttons and dials for critical vehicle functions. The move signals a potential rollback of the all-encompassing touchscreen interfaces that have become prevalent in modern cars.

The draft standard, developed by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stipulates that passenger and commercial vehicles must retain dedicated physical controls for essential systems. These include hazard lights, high beams, fog lights, windshield wipers and washers, and window heating and defrosting. The aim is to allow drivers to operate these controls by touch without diverting their attention from the road.

Beyond mandating the presence of buttons, the proposed rules specify requirements for their physical characteristics. Each button must have a minimum area of 10 by 10 millimeters, and the controls need to be distinguishable by texture or other tactile features. An exception is noted for automatic exterior lighting, where a virtual button on the home screen might be permissible if the lights activate automatically upon engine start.

If the standard is officially adopted, it is slated to take effect on July 1, 2027. New car models will need to comply 13 months after this date, while vehicles already in production will have a 19-month grace period. This initiative follows previous regulatory adjustments in China, including stricter rules for car seats and mandatory standards for mechanical door handles, underscoring a broader trend toward enhanced safety and usability in automotive manufacturing.