German Researchers Create Wood Touchscreen for Car Interiors

Researchers at Germany's Hochschule Hof, together with industry partners, are developing a prototype touchscreen made from wood for use in car doors. The WoodTouch system embeds a capacitive sensor layer beneath a thin, light‑transparent veneer, allowing the surface to detect touch and display control symbols only when needed. By printing conductive inks directly onto the substrate, the technology eliminates separate plastic components and aims to make the interior panel both functional and recyclable.

The wooden interface could replace traditional switches for windows, lighting and climate control, offering a natural‑looking surface that blends aesthetic appeal with interactive capability. The project also emphasizes the use of bio‑based plastics and low‑impact materials to improve sustainability compared with conventional automotive electronics.