Carmakers are equipping their latest models with fancy touchscreens, but that could cause problems with Europe’s largest car safety authority.
The European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) is revamping its rating system starting Jan. 1, 2026 to mandate that five of a car’s primary controls — its horn, windshield wipers, turn signals, hazard warning lights and SOS features — will need physical buttons or switches.
Car models will have to comply to get NCAP’s coveted five-star rating. The scheme is voluntary but is heeded by most automakers because it’s closely monitored by consumers.
Belgium-based NCAP says that purely digital controls are a potential safety issue.
I thought Tesla put handbrakes on the touchscreen as well, which seems all sorts of crazy to me… Might as well make a list of stuff we really dont want on there now I guess.
I don’t know about cybertruck, but the model 3 has the parking brakes on the end of one of the stalks. You don’t actually need it for anything though, taking the car out of drive (or just opening the door and walking away) has the same effect