The Return of Physical Buttons in Cars

Volkswagen Design Chief Andreas Mint made a striking statement last March, saying:“We can’t make this mistake again. This is not a phone, it’s a car.”

What he was referring to was the return of physical buttons in cars.

I have also written about this topic frequently. In fact, Euro NCAP has announced that starting in 2026, physical buttons will be mandatory for critical vehicle functions.

Still, the debate is ongoing. Technology enthusiasts have strongly opposed Mint’s perspective, creating a storm of criticism on social media. On the other hand, outside of social media echo chambers, a large majority of people continue to demand physical buttons.

I am also a technology enthusiast—not because of my profession, but because I truly enjoy it. I’ve always placed technology at the center of both my professional and personal life. But I have always kept one critical question in mind:

“Will I use technology to gain benefits, or will I become its prisoner?”

From time to time, I too become a prisoner of technology. It’s almost impossible not to. But what matters most is keeping this question in mind and striving to maintain balance.