Mercedes CEO Admits Industry Went Too Far With Touchscreens, Promises Return of Buttons

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has admitted that the auto industry may have "gone a little bit too far" in replacing physical buttons with digital controls. In an interview with Autocar, he said the company will now reintroduce "the most sensible buttons."

" He said Mercedes spends countless hours on user interfaces, joking that controls should be so easy that either a five-year-old or a Mercedes board member could use them.

The admission is significant for Mercedes, which has been one of the biggest adopters of giant displays, including the MBUX Hyperscreen spanning over 4.5 feet across the dashboard. While Mercedes isn't planning to give up large screens, it will bring back practical buttons.

Källenius also discussed voice control, which Mercedes embraced early but remains an awkward technology, especially for passengers who don't know the right phrases or when a simple temperature change interrupts a conversation.

Mercedes isn't alone in moving toward buttonless interiors, and some automakers have already started reversing course. The exact buttons to return haven't been announced, though climate controls and a volume dial are seen as likely candidates. The public admission is being viewed as a positive step forward for an industry long criticized for ignoring basic ergonomics.