Screen craze ends at Audi

Audi is preparing to add physical buttons to its vehicles again. Audi of America Senior Vice President of Product Management Philip Brabeck said on The Drivecast podcast that the industry has already passed the point where it can benefit from increasing the number of screens. The change will not be limited to new models only.

Why did Audi step back for physical buttons?

Brabeck's words are clear: "I think we've gone as far as we can go." According to the company, managing basic functions from on-screen menus was not always comfortable. That's why Audi wants to gradually bring back buttons, switches and mechanical controls.

Brabeck stated that the Chinese market and electric vehicles were effective in the spread of touch controls. However, the general trend is now turning towards mechanical elements.

What controls are coming back?

The topics that Audi evaluates are as follows:

Physical keys for climate control system

More convenient controls on the steering wheel

Easier access controls on door panels

The brand is also working on a new design line called Radical Next. Gernot Döllner and Massimo Frascella are involved in the project. The goal is to put controls in more thoughtful places and simplify the cabins.

Will also come to existing models

According to Brabeck, Audi will soon apply the new control scheme principles to vehicles on the market. He showed the solutions used in Q7 and Q9 as examples.

Digital technology is not completely abandoned. The company's goal is for technology to make interaction with the vehicle easier rather than more difficult. There is no announced schedule for which models and on what date Audi's new control concept will come.