Euro NCAP to penalise carmakers for touchscreen-only controls from 2026 to boost safety

Euro NCAP will begin factoring the presence of physical controls into its safety ratings starting in 2026, pushing carmakers to reintroduce buttons and switches for critical functions. The organization will deduct points if essential features like turn signals, windshield wipers, or hazard lights are accessible only through touchscreen menus, as these require drivers to take their eyes off the road for longer periods.
The shift aims to reduce cognitive load and improve safety by ensuring drivers can operate key functions by touch alone. Euro NCAP, while not a regulatory body, wields influence through its five-star rating system, which automakers rely on for marketing. Volkswagen has already responded by restoring physical controls for volume, seat heating, and fan speed in some models. Andreas Mindt, the brand’s head of design, stated, “This is not a phone, it’s a car.”
Experts note that touchscreens, while consolidating functions, increase visual demand. José Solaz of Spain’s Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia explained that physical buttons provide stable, tactile references that can be located without looking, unlike touchscreen interfaces that require visual confirmation. The change reflects a broader industry reassessment of the minimalist, screen-heavy interiors that have dominated recent designs.
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