Volkswagen interiors are about to undergo a major transformation. The world’s second-largest carmaker revealed plans to reintroduce physical buttons and dials, replacing the digital interfaces that studies have shown are stressing out drivers. For years, the company has leaned into cost-cutting measures and sleek, high-tech cabins featuring touchscreens and digital controls for everything from audio to climate settings. Drivers complained that tech-heavy cars were difficult to operate while driving, as they had to tap through multiple screens to locate air conditioning fan speeds, or fiddle with a series of sliders to modify music volume. In making the decision to go "old school," Volkswagen’s top designer, Andreas Mindt, announced, “It’s not a phone, it’s a car." The shift back to physical buttons will kick off next year with the launch of Volkswagen’s new compact electrical vehicle, the ID.2all. The car is the first battery-powered Volkswagen.
