Automakers must bring back physical controls if they want the top safety rating in Europe

[hwertz]

I'm not sure how this will be the cure all many claim it will be.
Except for the turn signals, of course. The wipers, hazard lights, emergency features and the horn are not exactly common use or often adjusted features.

Everything else can remain on the touch screen.

Speak for yourself. When I need to use my horn it's because someone is going to collide with me, they're running a stop sign or light, turning without signalling, they're trying to change lanes into the side of my vehicle, etc. I don't use it often but when I do I want to be able to hit the horn! And wipers? Of course they are often adjusted. I've had it easily go from no rain at all to just pouring down rain, and this is the worst time to look away from the windshield to start screwing around with a touch screen.

At the very least they should look like Knight Rider's KITT if they want to be all technofuturistic.

Yes!!!

 

[bexwhitt]

Coming soon, the EU sues car manufacturers for billions of dollars for not complying. The EU bureaucrats could care less about consumers, they are focused on generating fines, especially on American companies.

No fines just banned from sale.

 

[Endymio]

Most car companies are not American (I know, you think the world revolves around you).

And yet 16 of the 20 largest fines (and all the largest three) ever levelled by the EU were all against American firms. Go figure.

As for their reasons for doing this, they seem perfectly sound to me.

History has shown repeatedly that allowing the market to determine product features is by far the best alternative. My 2024 model vehicle has physical controls for all major functions already. But now, the EU will jump in and mandate a specific set of controls: a "one size fits all" approach that will ultimately result in the consumer having no choice whatsoever in what is, or isn't on a touch screen.

 

[Abaidor]

In the tech world, we also see similar trend in keyboard industry. instead of overusing the touchscreen, manufacturers would map important buttons into FN combination presses. I miss the older days of keyboard shopping where I'd compare some keyboard based on how useful the extra dedicated buttons are.

nowadays it's so boring. manufacturers just slam RGB everywhere and often put low profile keycaps on everything. I remember people used to hate typing on laptop keyboards because they're so thin and they're not as common.

I recently bought a Corsair K100 full sized keyoboard (switching from a compact Logitech) and I can't believe how much better and faster I am especially with the G-Keys that I have mapped so many functions (works per application). Give us more physical buttons!

 

[Endymio]

I recently bought a Corsair K100 full sized keyoboard (switching from a compact Logitech) and I can't believe how much better and faster I am especially with the G-Keys that I have mapped so many functions (works per application). Give us more physical buttons!

I remember 15 (?) years ago, when a much-hyped (but never delivered) keyboard promised us a tiny screen on each physical key, so that not only would those functions change per application, but the actual keycaps displayed as well.

Imagine a melding of this in the automotive world -- physical buttons, but each displaying information as well.

 

[Farkinell]

And yet 16 of the 20 largest fines (and all the largest three) ever levelled by the EU were all against American firms. Go figure.


History has shown repeatedly that allowing the market to determine product features is by far the best alternative. My 2024 model vehicle has physical controls for all major functions already. But now, the EU will jump in and mandate a specific set of controls: a "one size fits all" approach that will ultimately result in the consumer having no choice whatsoever in what is, or isn't on a touch screen.

Letting the market decide will ultimately result in whatever is the cheapest solution, which is why we're in this mess and why the EU has felt the need to step in.

At the end of the day the decision was based around safety, not the EU wanting to dictate product features. Touch screens are way less safe than physical controls and so if the industry was not prepared to regulate itself then they would have to regulate the industry.

It's not a US vs EU issue, don't forget one of the biggest culprits is VW followed by the German prestige brands and their obsessions with screens and hideous piano black (which should be banned on taste-grounds).

 

[Endymio]

Letting the market decide will ultimately result in whatever is the cheapest solution, which is why we're in this mess

Really? Everyone purchases the cheapest $18K subcompact car, the cheapest foods from the local grocery, and the cheapest processors for their computer?

The issue is twofold. First, consumers haven't shown they're willing to pay the extra cost for more physical controls. And two, where do you PUT all those controls anyway? My 2024 vehicle has physical controls already for some 30-odd functions -- plus a touch screen that, counting all options, has 500+ more. It's not 1992 any longer.

Where are you going to put 500 more toggles, levers, and buttons on a dash? And if you're not putting all of them, do you allow the government to choose the exact same set for everyone? Or allow customers themselves to choose, by allowing free choice in the marketplace?

 

[RF Match]

Coming soon, the EU sues car manufacturers for billions of dollars for not complying. The EU bureaucrats could care less about consumers, they are focused on generating fines, especially on American companies.

Absolutely...if you don't like touchscreens, don't buy a car with them. There are plenty of alternatives. I like touchscreens but I also like minimal physical controls which are needed in some cases. Somewhere there is a middle ground that may or may not be agreed upon.

 

[BabaYaga]

"Independent vehicle safety organization the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) says it is introducing new guidance at the start of 2026 that will require five important vehicle functions – turn signals, hazard warning lights, windshield wipers, horn, and SOS features – be activated by physical controls if a car wants to earn its five-star safety rating."

My Tesla MYP has physical buttons for all those except this SOS feature that I don't know of any car having. Both my Tesla and Iphone will dial emergency in an even of a crash so I guess I'm covered. Physical button is not as good as automatic detection in the even of incapacity or inability to press it.

 

[BabaYaga]

"TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust."

Rob, according to your ethics statement you willl "...correct errors and communicate corrections to our readers as soon as possible."

"Elon Musk's vehicles removed the stalks that were used for turn signals in favor of haptic buttons on the steering wheels"

Here is a correction. My 2023 Tesla MY has turn signal stalks and they are still there on 2024 models. Never in the history of Tesla MY have they been removed. Let me know when you issue a correction and communicate your errors to the readers. I hope your ethical statement is not just for show.

 

[mbk34]

And yet 16 of the 20 largest fines (and all the largest three) ever levelled by the EU were all against American firms. Go figure.

I don't think it's because the EU hates the US, it's more to do with some large US companies not respecting the anti-competitive and data privacy laws that are present in the EU.

 

[Endymio]

I don't think it's because the EU hates the US, it's more to do with some large US companies not respecting the anti-competitive and data privacy laws that are present in the EU.

Stuff and nonsense. The laws are intentionally written in a vague and ambiguous manner, allowing for a great deal of interpretation. Worse, when the EU sees some behavior they wish to target, instead of immediately issuing a rule clarification, warning, or cease and desist, they allow it to continue for several years on end, then suddenly smack the firm with a multi-million or multi-billion dollar fine.

Take the recent case against Apple. Nowhere in the EU's laws does it say "you must allow your competitors to advertise on your own platform". And Apple has been selling music on iTunes -- and barring competitor ads on their own platform -- for twenty years, without a peep from the EU. Suddenly, out of nowhere -- WHAM! Two billion dollar fine.

Face reality. These "antitrust" fines are a cash grab, plain and simple.

 

[scavengerspc]

I don't think it's because the EU hates the US

Maybe, maybe not. But It's either that, or they just have some yacht payments due, or want some upgrades. Or maybe are ready for more exotic vacations.

The EU is NOT on America's payroll.

I'm a Capitalist that really wishes we could just stop sending stuff to the EU and take the loss.
But yeah, quite the stark contrast in there.

 

[VitalyT]

I'll never change my 2017 Audi A6 for anything that came later - they replaced all buttons with touch screens, and made those cars unusable.

 

[BadThad]

Stuff and nonsense. The laws are intentionally written in a vague and ambiguous manner, allowing for a great deal of interpretation. Worse, when the EU sees some behavior they wish to target, instead of immediately issuing a rule clarification, warning, or cease and desist, they allow it to continue for several years on end, then suddenly smack the firm with a multi-million or multi-billion dollar fine.

Take the recent case against Apple. Nowhere in the EU's laws does it say "you must allow your competitors to advertise on your own platform". And Apple has been selling music on iTunes -- and barring competitor ads on their own platform -- for twenty years, without a peep from the EU. Suddenly, out of nowhere -- WHAM! Two billion dollar fine.

Face reality. These "antitrust" fines are a cash grab, plain and simple.

BINGO!