Volkswagen is set to introduce the flagship ID.7 EV featuring haptic touch controls on its steering wheel and an infotainment system controlled solely by touchscreens. However, the ID.7 may be the final VW model to incorporate this control setup. Reports suggest that VW is planning to reintroduce physical controls in its EVs, starting with the ID.7.
Scheduled for launch in 2024, the VW ID.7 will follow the path of the upgraded ID.3 by enlarging its touchscreen display while reducing the number of physical buttons, as per Autocar. Based on feedback from a prototype of the ID.7 interface that included buttons, VW decided to opt for customizable home screen icons instead of fixed single-function buttons. However, post-launch, the ID.7 is expected to replace its haptic touch controls on the steering wheel with buttons, marking a shift back to traditional controls.
In October, VW’s new CEO Thomas Schäfer made comments hinting at the reintroduction of physical buttons in VW’s vehicle interiors based on customer feedback. This new approach was demonstrated in the VW ID.2all concept, which includes traditional controls on the steering wheel and beneath the touchscreen.
VW has not confirmed whether the U.S.-market ID.7’s interface will incorporate physical controls post-launch. The automaker’s EV efforts have faced challenges in the U.S. partly due to subpar interface design in its initial mainstream EV, the ID.4 SUV. Shifting to physical controls could enhance VW’s prospects by aligning it with the successful practices of Hyundai.
Hyundai has recently pledged to retain physical controls due to the potential distraction posed by touchscreens. Former Jaguar design director Ian Callum has also criticized touch controls for the same reason. While it’s premature to declare a decline in the trend of touch controls, these developments indicate a potential shift in direction.
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