{"id":70171,"date":"2025-09-17T06:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/mercedes-brings-back-physical-buttons-for-better-in-car-experience\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T06:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:18:06","slug":"mercedes-brings-back-physical-buttons-for-better-in-car-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/mercedes-brings-back-physical-buttons-for-better-in-car-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes Brings Back Physical Buttons for Better In Car Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Are Physical Buttons Making a Comeback in Mercedes Cars?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve stepped inside a modern car lately, you\u2019ve probably noticed the trend: fewer buttons, more screens. For a while, it seemed like every new vehicle was racing toward a future where everything\u2014climate, music, even opening the glovebox\u2014was controlled by a touchscreen. But Mercedes-Benz, a brand known for its cutting-edge tech, is changing course. Why? Because the data says so.<\/p>\n

Magnus \u00d6stberg, Mercedes\u2019 software chief, recently shared that real-world usage data shows drivers actually prefer physical buttons for certain functions. It\u2019s not just nostalgia talking\u2014there\u2019s solid evidence that tactile controls are easier and safer to use, especially while driving. This insight is shaping the next generation of Mercedes interiors, starting with the new GLC and CLA Shooting Brake EVs, both of which feature a redesigned steering wheel packed with rockers, rollers, and good old-fashioned buttons.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Driving the Shift Back to Physical Controls?<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s behind this pivot? It turns out, not all drivers are thrilled about having to tap through menus just to adjust the volume or change the radio station. Mercedes\u2019 data, gathered from their new software-defined vehicles (SDVs) like the CLA and GLC, reveals that high-frequency tasks\u2014think adjusting temperature or skipping a song\u2014are simply faster and less distracting with physical controls.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just a hunch. A 2023 study by the Swedish car magazine Vi Bil\u00e4gare found that drivers took significantly longer to perform basic tasks on touchscreens compared to traditional buttons, sometimes with their eyes off the road for dangerously long periods. Mercedes is taking these findings seriously, aiming to strike a better balance between digital and tactile interfaces.<\/p>\n

How Will This Change the Mercedes Driving Experience?<\/p>\n

The new steering wheel design, loaded with physical controls, will become standard across the Mercedes lineup. Even models already on sale will get the upgrade, starting with the latest CLA saloon. This approach is both cost-effective and user-friendly, letting Mercedes enhance existing cars without a complete interior overhaul.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just about the steering wheel. Mercedes is considering adding more physical buttons throughout the cabin, especially in larger vehicles like SUVs. The reasoning? Bigger cars offer more space for extra controls, and their buyers tend to value tactile feedback even more.<\/p>\n

Are Touchscreens Going Away Completely?<\/p>\n

Not at all. In fact, Mercedes is pushing the boundaries of digital displays with its new MBUX Hyperscreen\u2014a jaw-dropping 39.1-inch panel that stretches across the entire dashboard of the GLC. It\u2019s likely the largest screen ever fitted to a production car. But even as screens get bigger and more impressive, Mercedes designers like Gordon Wagener acknowledge there\u2019s a practical limit. \u201cWe have reached a point where you cannot make the screen much bigger,\u201d he said at the Munich Motor Show.<\/p>\n

Instead, the focus is shifting to making these digital experiences feel more luxurious and intuitive. That means refining the software, improving voice controls, and ensuring that the technology enhances rather than overwhelms the driving experience.<\/p>\n

How Does Mercedes Tailor Tech for Different Markets?<\/p>\n

One fascinating insight from Mercedes\u2019 data-driven approach is that preferences vary by region. While European drivers tend to favor physical buttons, drivers in Asia\u2014especially China\u2014are more comfortable with touchscreens and advanced voice controls. Mercedes is responding by considering different steering wheel and control layouts for different markets, ensuring that each customer gets the experience they want.<\/p>\n

Voice commands are also on the rise, with usage among Mercedes drivers reportedly tripling in recent years. This is particularly important in China, where seamless voice interaction is a must-have feature.<\/p>\n

What Does This Mean for the Future of Car Interiors?<\/p>\n

Mercedes\u2019 move to reintroduce physical buttons isn\u2019t just a nod to the past\u2014it\u2019s a sign of a more thoughtful, user-centered approach to car design. As vehicles become more software-driven, automakers have access to unprecedented data about how drivers actually use their cars. That means future interiors can be shaped by real-world needs, not just design trends.<\/p>\n

Expect to see a blend of tactile and digital controls, tailored for different markets and vehicle types. And as artificial intelligence and voice recognition continue to improve, the line between physical and digital will blur even further.<\/p>\n

The Takeaway: It\u2019s All About Balance<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, Mercedes\u2019 decision to bring back physical buttons is about making life easier\u2014and safer\u2014for drivers. It\u2019s a reminder that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. As technology continues to evolve, the brands that listen to their customers and adapt accordingly will be the ones that stand out. For Mercedes, that means embracing both the future and the familiar, all in the name of a better driving experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Mercedes<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The steering wheel in the new GLC features physical buttons, rockers and rollers. It will be the standard across the rest of the Mercedes range.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

German car maker admits “the data shows us physical buttons are better\u201d despite its digital-focussed approach to interiors<\/p>\n

\n

Mercedes-Benz will begin to integrate more physical controls into its digitally focused cabins, as \u201cthe data shows us physical buttons are better\u201d, software boss Magnus \u00d6stberg has told Autocar.<\/p>\n

This starts with the new GLC<\/a> and CLA Shooting Brake<\/a>\u00a0EVs, which both get a host of rockers, rollers and buttons on a new-design steering wheel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This wheel will be the standard for Mercedes\u2019s models going forward, and the plan is also to fit it to all cars already on sale \u2013 starting later this year with the recently launched CLA saloon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This, \u00d6stberg said, is the easiest and most cost-efficient way of adding physical controls to cars that are already on sale while still keeping Mercedes’ digital-first cabins.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaking to Autocar at the Munich motor show<\/a>, he explained: \u201cYou can see a difference if you move from the CLA [saloon], which has a touchscreen and fewer hard buttons, to the [new] GLC, where we put back the rollers and buttons, because we see in the data that the rollers and these physical buttons are very important for certain age groups and certain populations.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo having that balance between physical buttons and the touch is extremely important for us. We’re completely data-driven, seeing that what is actually something that is used high-frequency, the data shows us the physical buttons are better, and that’s why we put them back in.\u201d<\/p>\n

That data has come from software-defined vehicles: the CLA is Mercedes’ first SDV and the incoming GLC the second.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As well as being easier to tweak (as software can be updated over the air rather than needing to drag buyers into garages), SDVs also give car makers full access to drivers\u2019 data and usage. \u201cThis is so important,\u201d said \u00d6stberg, as it means decisions, such as bringing back some physical controls, can be data-driven.<\/p>\n

Due to that data, he hinted that other wheel designs could be used depending on the market. For example, while Europeans like buttons, Asian drivers prefer more touchscreen and voice controls.<\/p>\n

\u00d6stberg said Mercedes is also looking at adding more physical controls elsewhere in the cabin for future models \u2013 but this will most likely be kept to SUVs, as \u201cin larger cars we have more freedom to package\u201d and buyers of those cars \u201ccare more about buttons\u201d.<\/p>\n

The revelation comes as Mercedes has just fitted the new GLC with its biggest screen ever, and possibly the biggest to ever feature in any production car: a single-piece display named MBUX Hyperscreen that, at 39.1in, spans the entire width of the SUV\u2019s dashboard.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Munich motor show, Mercedes design chief Gordon Wagener said this is probably as big as screens will get. \u201cWe have reached a point where you cannot make the screen much bigger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

How Mercedes will progress this design for its top-end models is what designers are currently looking at, as the GLC\u2019s interior \u201cis almost S-Class<\/a> in terms of technology\u201d, said Wagener.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIt’s such a valuable piece. To get this level of luxury inside is amazing. When you look at the interior, it’s amazing what we have done there. \u201cBut we can always do better; don’t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wagener said the next stage of luxury won\u2019t just come from high-end materials but also from software: \u201cHow can we give [the cabin] more luxury appeal? When you look at Apple and you look at [its competitors], it\u2019s the software that feels more premium than others, and I think our software feels more premium than others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s also all that craftsmanship that makes it a Mercedes and makes the difference to the other brands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mercedes is also looking at introducing more artificial intelligence into its cars, mainly centred around voice commands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is an important feature for buyers in China \u2013 the world\u2019s largest car market, in which Mercedes is trying to build back a presence. But \u00d6stberg said that European buyers will also use it, and the data suggests that voice command usage in the CLA has \u201ctripled\u201d among Mercedes drivers. \u201cIt’s phenomenal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70172,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70171"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70171\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}