Swapping out the steering wheel's rollers and toggle switches for a single sheet of glass looks futuristic on paper, but using it day-to-day is a whole different story. In an interview with Autocar, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius openly admitted the company had misjudged the balance in recent years, prioritizing technology over customer convenience — and future models will see physical buttons make a comeback.
Källenius put it plainly: the entire auto industry has hit rock bottom on the "fewer buttons is better" trend, and now it's time to find the right balance between digital displays and tactile feedback. He even joked that a car's cabin interface should be simple enough for either a five-year-old or a board member to operate without thinking twice. It's less a design philosophy statement and more of a self-deprecating jab at how fast the industry rushed toward all-touch controls.
Worth noting: Mercedes-Benz isn't planning to shrink its screens. Massive display setups like the 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen will remain the visual centerpiece of the cabin in upcoming models like the 2027 Mercedes GLA. The return of physical buttons isn't a replacement — it's an addition. Big screens and traditional switches will coexist rather than force an either-or choice.
There's also a regulatory push behind this shift. Starting in 2026, new Euro NCAP rules will require physical switches for basic functions like turn signals, hazard lights, and wipers, with points docked for non-compliance — making the return of buttons not just a matter of user experience, but also regulatory compliance. A Swedish distraction study cited in the discussion found that vehicles with more physical buttons let drivers complete routine in-cabin tasks noticeably faster than those relying on touchscreen menus, echoing Källenius's stance. Mercedes-Benz has already restored physical controls on the steering wheel and plans to gradually roll this out across its full passenger vehicle lineup, though specific models and timelines have yet to be announced.
