Some automakers have gone overboard with interior design, replacing traditional knobs and buttons with touch-sensitive controls and oversized touchscreens. Porsche followed this trend with the launch of the electric Taycan, removing many physical controls. But the company now appears to be rethinking that approach.
In an interview with The Drive in Germany, Cayenne electronics manager Dirk Assfalg said customers still want physical buttons in their vehicles. Even the new Cayenne EV, which features a tech-heavy interior with a 14.3-inch OLED central display, retains physical controls for most key functions.
According to Assfalg, Porsche models will “always” have certain hard buttons—like a volume knob—and the Cayenne Electric retains tactile controls for things like fan speed and temperature. Most other features are still managed via the large touchscreen. Assfalg says:
‘We know from our customers, also coming from China, that there’s always a strong wish of having these buttons still in the car … we have physical buttons for the things we want to know, or we want to have some physical feedback.’
Porsche Cayenne Electric’s Interior
Photo by: Porsche
Porsche isn’t the only automaker clinging to the volume knob, either. BMW’s new iX3 electric SUV features a large 17.9-inch iDrive display that handles most functions—but like the Cayenne, it still includes a physical volume rocker.
According to BMW, customers still want tactile controls. The company analyzed data from roughly 10 million drivers and found that the volume knob is still one of the most frequently used features across its vehicles.
Thankfully, it appears that the volume knob isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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Source: Porsche
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