Key highlights
- Physical buttons in cars to be mandated in China
- New rule to come into effect from July 1, 2027
- Features like ADAS will get manual switches to turn on and off
In a crackdown against the minimalist and aesthetic touch-control-based turnaround in cars, Chinese authorities are soon going to mandate a set of physical buttons in all cars from July 1. Read below what has led to this decision, and what these physical buttons are for.
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No more touch buttons in Chinese cars for essential features
China is eliminating the touch-based controls for essential features in cars. This step comes after the recent action against the retractable door handles for safety. The touch-based controls will be replaced by the physical buttons for a certain set of mandatory functions, which is to ensure that the safety is not hampered in any car on the road in China.
As per a latest report by CarNewsChina, the Chinese MIIT will require the carmakers to equip all models with the physical controls for features including the turn signals on/off, window lowering/raising, and even ADAS features like auto-emergency braking. Other mandated physical controls will include a manual gearshift lever, windshield wipers, windshield defogger, and an emergency accident call system.
Moreover, EVs will be required to have a physical button to switch on/off the powertrain. These new physical control mandates will go live for all cars to be sold on or after July 1, 2027, in China. As per the report, Chinese authorities started working on revising the existing national standard of safety (GB4094), with the help of carmakers like BYD, Geely, Great Wall Motor, and more, in 2023.
Furthermore, all of these physical controls will require certain dimensions for free movement and a fixed position for blind usability, and reliability even when the car’s power is lost.
