Automakers have been swapping traditional knobs and switches for capacitive touch panels, a move that trims assembly time and cuts wiring costs. Yet designers’ sleek interiors hide a safety problem: touch controls demand drivers glance away from the road. Regulators in Europe and Oceania are now pushing back.

From 2026, Euro NCAP will dock points on any model lacking separate physical controls for core functions such as the horn, turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers and headlights. ANCAP adopted identical guidance, also insisting that these features appear on a fixed portion of the cabin display rather than a floating infotainment screen.

Porsche’s upcoming Cayenne already shows the shift, re‑introducing tactile buttons after a decade of button‑free cabins. If other brands follow, 2026 could mark a broader revival of physical interfaces, giving drivers clearer feedback and regulators a metric to assess safety. Watch upcoming model releases for how they balance touch tech with mandated hardware.