The CEO of VW Admits ‘Annoying’ Interiors Without Buttons Have Harmed VW’s Image

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Whenever the Volkswagen ID.4 or the Mk8 GTI are mentioned, there is a torrent of criticism about their subpar interiors. The grievances are not related to the craftsmanship or even the general aesthetics, but rather to their frustrating ergonomics and controls. It seems to have escalated to the point where the CEO of Volkswagen has now acknowledged the situation—and is even ensuring significant enhancements.

“We had dissatisfied customers who should not be dissatisfied,” VW’s CEO Thomas Schäfer recently conveyed to Autocar. He even expressed that these “annoying” interiors “undeniably caused a significant amount of harm” among loyal customers.

What attributes to the current exasperating interior design language of VW? VW’s most recent offerings are inundated with touch-sensitive controls and sliders that seldom function adequately, are cumbersome to operate, and exhibit a cheap feel. To exacerbate the situation, many of the controls lack backlighting, rendering them invisible at night. Additionally, consider the ID.4, equipped with only two window switches on the driver’s door, alongside a separate control to alternate their functions between the front and rear windows. It’s an excessively convoluted resolution to a non-existent problem.

Nevertheless, Schäfer assures that VW is meticulously evaluating each button, switch, and touchscreen control to ensure they are not just user-friendly but also provide a pleasant tactile experience. “Is a button appropriate? Should it be a switch? Then you can focus on its aesthetics. When handling buttons, it’s preferable to have few buttons, but they should be of superior quality—akin to an aircraft: what about the tactile feedback?”

He also emphasized the importance of consistency. Schäfer desires customers to feel comfortable in every Volkswagen model, thus avoiding drastic alterations in interior design from one generation to the next, as observed from the Mk7 to the Mk8 GTI, for example.

One of the initial global vehicles to benefit from this fresh interior design strategy will be the upcoming 2024 VW Tiguan, whose interior recently got a sneak peek. The new Tiguan will feature an extensive touchscreen infotainment system, paired with a rotary dial on the center console—similar to Audi’s past MMI system and BMW’s iDrive—which is purported to regulate volume and driving modes. Moreover, physical buttons are thankfully reinstated on the steering.

This declaration is comforting news for disheartened Volkswagen enthusiasts who were disenchanted by the brand’s recent interior design alteration. Volkswagen is receptive to feedback and is implementing alterations.

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