ChinaChina has approved new requirements that will force automakers to use physical buttons or switches for a set of safety-related vehicle functions, reversing a years-long trend of moving controls onto central touchscreens, led by Tesla and adopted by many Chinese brands.
The rules require physical or mechanical controls for: turn signals, hazard lights, the horn, the PRND gear selector, turning driver-assist systems on and off, wipers, windshield defrost and defog, power windows, the emergency call system, and the button that fully powers down an electric vehicle.
Regulators argue that routing these functions through a touchscreen distracts drivers and can be dangerous in an emergency, when a driver needs to act without hunting through on-screen menus.
The requirements take effect July 1, 2027. They follow an earlier Chinese decision to ban fully hidden door handles that lack a mechanical backup, part of a broader regulatory push against interior designs that prioritize a minimalist look over functions drivers need to reach instantly.
