Mercedes-Benz to brings back buttons after data shows drivers prefer them

Mercedes-Benz is rethinking its digital-first cabin strategy, confirming it will reintroduce more physical buttons and controls across current and future models after customer data revealed drivers find them more practical than touchscreens.

The shift begins with the new GLC and the CLA Shooting Brake EV, both of which debut a redesigned steering wheel packed with rollers, rockers and buttons. The same wheel will be rolled out across the wider Mercedes range, including cars already on sale such as the CLA saloon, which will adopt it later this year.

As reported by Autocar UK, Magnus Östberg, Mercedes’ Chief Software Officer, said the decision was based squarely on real-world feedback.

“The data shows us the rollers and physical buttons are very important for certain age groups and populations,” he explained at the Munich motor show. “Having that balance between physical buttons and touch is extremely important for us.”

The findings come from Mercedes’ new generation of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), such as the CLA and upcoming GLC. With their constant data streams and over-the-air updates, SDVs give Mercedes unprecedented insight into how owners actually interact with their cars. The evidence, said Östberg, is clear: drivers rely heavily on physical controls for frequently used functions.

Read more – Next Mercedes GLC EQ will have 700km of range

A Market-Specific Approach

Mercedes hinted it may tailor control layouts depending on the market. European drivers tend to prefer physical buttons, while in Asia, voice control and touch inputs are more popular. Larger models, especially SUVs, are also more likely to see physical buttons return, as buyers in that segment “care more about buttons” and packaging space allows for them.

Balancing Screens with Switchgear

The revelation comes just as Mercedes pushes the limits of in-car displays. The latest GLC features the brand’s largest-ever screen, the 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen, stretching across the entire dashboard. But Mercedes design chief Gordon Wagener admitted this could be the ceiling:

“We have reached a point where you cannot make the screen much bigger.”