Euro NCAP pushes comeback of buttons over displays

The top safety assessment agency of the European Union wants buttons over touch for select safety-critical controls inside the vehicles. To enforce it, the agency is gearing up to introduce a new rule as early as 2026 that mandates physical buttons and knob mechanisms to receive a five-star safety rating.

Car buyers globally love sleek design and seamless user experience in their vehicle cockpits, often mirroring their smartphones. Responding to the rapidly changing consumer choices, automakers are rolling out cars with larger, exquisite displays operated by touch. Vehicle control by touch is so mainstream today that it has left behind the more traditional tuning knobs and buttons for vehicle control.