Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged that its vehicles have lost too many physical buttons and is now planning to bring them back in future models. Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, admitted that the company's decision to replace physical buttons with large touchscreens was a mistake. The manufacturer now promises to reintroduce buttons for critical controls that can be accessed without taking one's eyes off the road. Functions like adjusting the air conditioning, increasing the volume, or switching windshield wipers to intermittent mode—once controlled by physical switches—now require navigating through hidden submenus on a screen. In an interview with the British magazine Autocar, published on July 31, 2026, Källenius stated that the company's push toward all-digital features had gone too far. The shift has already begun, as the new CLA model has replaced the capacitive cursor on the steering wheel with a real physical volume knob. The GLC With EQ Technology and the CLA Shooting Brake now also feature redesigned steering wheels with tangible controls instead of touchscreens. Källenius assured that other "sensible" controls will follow, while still keeping the Hyperscreen MBUX, a tri-screen display measuring 142 cm that spans the entire dashboard. The large displays remain, but critical controls are regaining a physical presence. Other automakers have also responded to consumer concerns and regulatory pressure by reintroducing physical controls. Volkswagen added physical buttons to the steering wheel of the Golf Mk8.5 after criticism of its touch controls. Hyundai reintroduced buttons and knobs in the redesigned Tucson, while Ferrari announced the return of physical controls on its future models after customer complaints. Porsche is taking a hybrid approach, retaining touch controls while also reintroducing certain physical buttons. Regulatory pressure has played a significant role in this shift. Since January 2026, Euro NCAP has penalized vehicles that lack physical controls for critical functions such as turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, horn, and emergency call. Without these controls, a vehicle cannot achieve the top safety rating of five stars. Euro NCAP reports that about 90 percent of European buyers consult this rating before making a purchase. In China, the Ministry of Industry (MIIT) is preparing a similar framework, set to apply to all new vehicles produced after July 2027. New evaluations of the human-machine interface will examine the layout, clarity, and ease of use of essential controls, including the presence of physical buttons for commonly used functions. Consumer feedback has shown that physical buttons can reduce driver distraction, leading to safer driving conditions. The Tesla Model S, launched in 2012, popularized the idea of a car cabin controlled by a large central screen. Since then, many manufacturers have followed this path, sometimes hiding essential functions in digital menus. Mercedes-Benz is now rediscovering a very simple rule: some controls must remain immediately accessible without diverting one's gaze from the road.