Cars sold in China will soon have to feature physical buttons for key functions, forcing automakers away from the Tesla-style minimalist cabins that have become increasingly popular there and which see most functions moved to a touchscreen.
As reported by Car News China, a draft for public comment has been completed, ahead of a mandate expected to come into effect for new vehicles in China from July 1, 2026.
This mandate is set to require physical buttons or switches for a set of functions including indicators, window operation, windscreen wipers, gear selection, and window demisters, as well as cover the ability to turn advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features, such as lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control, on or off.
Also set to be mandated is a physical power-off switch for electric vehicles (EVs), with the features outlined by Chinese authorities matching new regulations coming into effect from vehicle safety bodies around the world.
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From 2026, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) – which works with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – will require vehicles to have physical controls or risk missing out on a five-star safety rating.
The requirement for physical buttons forms part of new 2026 safety protocols to be adopted by both safety bodies, which have been previewed, though further details are yet to be announced.
An increasing number of car brands have removed buttons from their cabins, relocating features to in-car touchscreens instead.
This has saved space, delivered a cleaner cabin look, and reduced manufacturing costs and complexity for automakers.
Yet it has also sparked considerable customer complaints about usability, including unconventional placement of key functions.
A 2024 study by Hyundai Design North America (HDNA) found the majority of respondents preferred physical buttons, with HDNA Vice President Ha Hak-soo explaining: “When we tested with our focus group, we realised that people get stressed, annoyed and steamed when they want to control something in a pinch, but are unable to do so.”
Tesla, for example, removed conventional indicator stalks on the 2023 Model 3 update sold in Australia – replacing them with steering wheel buttons – before an update in late 2025 quietly reintroduced them.
The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 also feature a power on/off command within a touchscreen menu, without a physical switch as a backup – something which will no longer be accepted in China, and which will be penalised by safety authorities in Europe and Australia.
Similarly, Volkswagen owners in the US launched a lawsuit over issues with the capacitive buttons on the steering wheel of the ID.4 EV, which is sold in Australia alongside the related ID.5.
The capacitive buttons reportedly saw drivers mistakenly activate features with a mere ‘brush’, prompting the German automaker to pledge a return to physical buttons in future models.
The proposed laws in China demand the buttons are not only clearly visible but also ‘blind-operable’ – that is, able to be operated easily without the driver taking their eyes off the road ahead.
The decision by authorities is one of several recent changes aimed at improving safety, including the banning of flush electric door handles which don’t have a mechanical backup.
Without a mechanical backup, a vehicle’s doors may not be able to be opened after a collision where the car has lost power, making it harder for occupants to exit and hampering rescue efforts.
China has also moved to ban ‘yoke-style’ steering wheels shown by brands including Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
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