20:39 16-02-2026

China reintroduces physical controls in cars for enhanced safety

China's new standard GB4094 requires physical buttons for key car functions like turn signals and wipers by 2026, aiming to reduce screen reliance and improve road safety.

China is shifting course in automotive ergonomics by officially reintroducing physical controls. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has prepared an updated standard, GB4094, which will become mandatory for all new cars starting July 1, 2026. The main goal is to reduce reliance on central screens, which have replaced nearly all familiar buttons over the past decade.

Minimalist interior design has become a hallmark of Chinese electric vehicles, but manufacturers are increasingly facing criticism. Drivers must hunt for basic functions in multimedia menus, distracting them from the road. Even industry representatives have acknowledged that the trend toward "full digitization" has become an end in itself.

The new standard brings back buttons for key operations: turn signals, hazard lights, horn, window controls, gear selection for park, reverse, neutral, and drive, as well as activating wipers, heating, and driving assistants. Screen-based gear shifting is now prohibited.

The requirements are thoroughly detailed: a minimum press area of 10x10 mm, tactile or auditory feedback, and fixed control positions. All elements must remain accessible even in the event of electronic failure or power loss.

Major companies like BYD, Geely, and FAW-VW participated in the development. China aims to reduce accident rates and make interfaces intuitive to use without looking. In practice, this marks the end of the "iPad on the dashboard" era and the beginning of a new balance between digitization and safety.