Report: China looks at touchscreen crackdown, considers physical button mandate
Words: Andrew Sluys
China is continuing its crackdown on safety features in the automotive industry, with touchscreen controls now in the spotlight.
According to a report by Car News China, a draft has been made available for public comment, that would mandate physical controls for certain features in cars.
The draft states vehicle controls such as window operation, windscreen wipers, indicators, window demisters and driver assistance systems would require physical buttons.
Following this public comment period, the mandate is expected to come into force from July 1, 2026.
This move from Chinese authorities mirrors what Euro NCAP is doing in regards to physical controls in vehicles.
From 2026, if a car doesn’t have physical controls for important functions, it will miss out on a five-star rating. This extends to ANCAP testing procedures as well.
This move to mandate physical buttons follows a series of moves by China to improve vehicle safety.
Just last week, a ban was issued on flush door handles, meaning all new vehicle approvals will have to have a recess between the door and the handle for emergency access.
And more recently, yoke steering wheels were the topic of debate, with China looking to ban any steering device that isn’t a traditional wheel.
