China proposes mandatory physical buttons for essential vehicle functions

Chinese authorities are proposing new regulations to mandate physical buttons for essential vehicle functions, moving away from a reliance on touchscreens. A draft proposal from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and other ministries requires that controls for windshield wipers, lights, and defrosting be accessible via physical buttons. The draft also seeks to ban foldable or flexible screens in front of the driver and prohibits gear shifting via touchscreens.

New vehicles seeking type approval in China must comply with these requirements by July 1, 2027, while already approved models have until January 1, 2028. The move follows a trend in Europe, where Euro NCAP has updated its testing protocols to reward vehicles that offer intuitive physical controls for core functions, noting that screen-based menus can increase driver distraction.

In recent safety tests, manufacturers like Audi have received high scores for intuitive button layouts, whereas others relying heavily on screen menus face different safety assessments. The Chinese proposal also includes strict requirements for head-up displays to prevent glare and prohibits seats from being rotated or reclined while the vehicle is in motion.