China requires the return of physical buttons in cars from 2027

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has updated the national standard GB 4094-2016, stipulating that all new vehicles on the Chinese market must have physical switches for key driving functions. The new rules, which will come into effect on July 1, 2027, do not prohibit central displays, but require that key tools or functions be equipped with real buttons, levers or switches.

Mandatory physical elements include turn signals, light controls, gear lever, wipers and window defoggers. The ministry emphasizes that these functions must not depend on pressing a screen while driving. The main requirement is that the driver must operate these switches completely "blindly", without taking his eyes off the road. This will also prohibit Tesla's solution for changing gears via the touch screen. Special buttons for moving the windows, defoggers, emergency shutdown and emergency call in case of accidents will also be mandatory.

Other manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz, are also gradually returning physical buttons to passenger cabins. The changes have been helped by research from the University of Washington and the Toyota Institute, which confirms the negative impact of screens on driver concentration. There has been a long-standing debate among users about the appropriate balance, with many advocating that the screen should only serve the camera, music and climate control.