China prescribes haptic controls in the cockpit

Design China Prescribes Haptic Controls in the Cockpit

2026-02-16 From Thomas Günnel Thomas Günnel | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Indicators, windows, driver assistance systems: From July 2026, certain functions in new cars in China will be directly operable while driving—without visual input on a screen.

In China, certain functions in new cars will once again be directly accessible via haptic input—without a screen.(Image: BYD) — In China, certain functions in new cars will once again be directly accessible via haptic input—without a screen.
(Image: BYD)

The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Trade, MIIT, wants to make physical controls mandatory for certain vehicle functions. This was reported by the news site Car News China. The requirement is to apply to newly manufactured vehicles from July 2026. Control components for certain functions must then be accessible, usable and largely blind operable while driving, reports the news site, without relying excessively on visual input. This should also reduce distraction caused by screens.

In recent years, car manufacturers have established minimalist cockpit designs in many new vehicles—a screen in the middle is often the only way to change vehicle settings. Physical controls are almost non-existent in some cars. According to Car News China, Geely's Head of Design Chen Zheng commented on this trend at the end of 2025: "The Chinese automotive industry is suffering from blindly following trends."

These Functions Should Be Physically Operable

The planned standard is intended to change this. According to the news site, a draft is ready and will soon be published for public comment. Physical controls must therefore be available for:

Lighting: indicators, hazard warning lights, horn
Gear shifting: P/R/N/D, shifting only via the screen is not permitted
Driver assistance: Activation switch for the advanced driver assistance system
Safety/emergency: windshield wipers, defroster/dehumidifier, electric windows, emergency call system for children/accidents and off switch for electric vehicles

The standard will also stipulate how the operating elements must be designed. Accordingly, the effective operating surface must not be smaller than ten by ten millimetres (0.39 inches). The elements must be in a fixed position, be able to be operated blind and provide haptic or auditory feedback. Basic functions must also remain available in the event of a vehicle crash or power failure.

According to the news site, car manufacturers and testing institutes have been revising the existing "GB4094-2016" standard since 2023, with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, Geely, FAW-Volkswagen, BYD and Great Wall Motor among those involved.

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