The trend of the car market in the last decade has been clear: to put the greatest number of screens in the car as possible. Tesla had a good part of guilt in starting this fashion, with a minimalist design based on a central screen for everything that was very praised in its day and has been copied by many brands. But now, the market can take a 180 degree turn, and many manufacturers will have to modify their new models.
And is that the Euro NCAP has confirmed that As of January 1, 2026, cars that use tactile controls for basic functions will be penalized during the security test; Therefore, new vehicles will have to offer traditional physical control, at least for these basic functions. The measure was already announced last year, but now Autoblog He has confirmed that he will enter into the first month of 2026.
Specifically, the functions that physical control must have the following: The flashing, emergency lights, horn, wiper, and Ecall emergency call system. During security tests, Euro NCAP will ensure that these functions have physical control available (although they also have an optional digital control); In case of not having it, it will affect the final security score, which means that the model would not receive the five Euro NCAP stars.
It must be clarified that the euro NCAP is a system volunteerand has no power to force anything to manufacturers; But it has been the reference of millions of consumers for decades who seek maximum security in their new cars, and brands usually make modifications to ensure five stars and use them in their promotional campaigns.
On the other hand, the new measure is not expected to affect many models; The most affected can be Teslathat in the last reviews of its most popular cars, such as Model 3, has begun to remove the flashing levers, replacing them with tactile controls in the steering wheel. On paper, Tesla’s next models may not receive the five Euro NCAP stars if they continue to use this system.
Initially, it seemed that consumers were happy with the touch screens in cars, for aesthetics, modernity, and the possibilities of using apps such as Google Maps or Android Auto in the car; But the passage of time has given the reason to those who continued to prefer the buttons. And, little by little, drivers are realizing that having a screen for everything is not as beautiful as it seems.
The free android
Functions that until now had their own control, such as the air conditioner or the music player, are now hidden in menus that require our attention and can suppose a Distraction on the road; And that is why the Euro NCAP will reflect this danger.
Although initially the measure only affects very basic functions that are already physical controls in most cars, it is expected to expand to other controls. In the words of Matthew Avery, director of Technological Development of Euro NCAP, “Excessive use of touch screens is a problem throughout the industry”although there are already some manufacturers who have announced a reverse in their commitment to this technology.
