While the whole world moves towards minimalist and aesthetically pleasing cabin designs, China has decided to go opposite direction. After carmakers have nearly eliminated all physical buttons, China will soon make it mandatory for all carmakers to provide a certain set of physical controls for essential features. Check out the complete details about it below.
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Why is China shifting to physical controls in cars?
As per a latest report published by CarNewsChina, Chinese authorities will mandate all carmakers to offer a set of physical buttons for essential features. The new regulation will come into effect from July 1, 2027, and the Chinese MIIT has been working on it since 2023.
China’s MIIT will be amending the existing national safety standard GB4094-2016, which allows the carmakers to design the cabin of cars without physical buttons. However, the local authorities lately found that the growing trend of removing the physical buttons is dangerous and could cause fatal accidents in emergency situations.
Therefore, the authorities have been working with brands like BYD, Geely, Great Wall Motor, and others to amend the safety standard. As per the details, all carmakers in China will have to equip their cars with physical controls for the following features:
- Turn signal indicators, hazard warning lights, and horn
- Gear shifting
- ADAS safety features
- Wipers
- Windshield defogger
- Power windows
- Powertrain switch off/on in EVs
- Child/accident emergency call system
Additionally, the future amendment will require the physical controls to have certain dimensions for free movement. These will include fixed positions for blind usability, the operating area should be greater than or equal to 10 X 10 mm, and the physical controls should be reliable; even if the car loses power, they should be operational.
Not just China, but also European NCAP had already announced that it will deduct points from the ratings based on the absence of physical controls. A similar trajectory of new rules is expected to be followed by the Australian NCAP as well.
Cars24 UAE says
The latest move from Chinese authorities to embed physical controls for essential safety features is a big welcome. Lately, all carmakers have been following a blind trail of eliminating buttons and moving to touchscreens. In some extreme cases, these features have already proven dangerous. Hence, we believe that this move will enhance the safety of motorists in China.
