Radical shift in the world's most technologically advanced car market: China is ending the era of buttonless cockpits.
China's Ministry of Industry has published a draft of new safety regulations mandating physical buttons for life-critical functions.
From July 1, 2027, all newly manufactured vehicles in the People's Republic must have "real" controls again.
The new mandatory buttons
The following functions may no longer be operated exclusively via touchscreens:
- Gear shift and turn signals
- Hazard lights and window controls
- Emergency call (eCall)
- Minimum size: 10 x 10 mm per button
The reason: distraction at the wheel. In many electric cars, even mechanical functions run through the central display. In the Tesla Model Y, the driver has to tap the display to change gears.
Not the first reversal
China is systematically cleaning up design trends that are problematic from a safety perspective:
Measure | From when | Affected |
|---|---|---|
Physical buttons mandatory | July 2027 | Tesla, BYD, Xiaomi |
Ban on retractable door handles | Jan. 2027 | Tesla Model S/X, BYD |
Ban on yoke steering wheels | Jan. 2027 | Tesla Model S, Lexus |
Retractable door handles can jam after accidents and trap occupants. Yoke steering wheels don't meet airbag standards – according to the ministry, the steering column is involved in 46% of all driver injuries.
China is not alone. The European testing organization Euro NCAP has also already announced that from 2026, it will no longer award five stars if safety-critical functions can only be operated via screens.
- The message is clear: futuristic aesthetics are all well and good – but not at the expense of safety.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
