Today’s high-tech cars are more advanced than ever, and while some aspects of this transformation are undisputed, some features are not favored by the public. One of the most prominent and problematic car trends is the infotainment screen.
It's easy to see why the touch screen and large displays were captured initially. They are stylish, allowing you to interact with your car in a way that you can interact with your smartphone. However, in reality, the technology is flawed and the driver is pushing back.
Infotainment screens have been around for years. Once Tesla gained traction with its iPad-style controls in the mid-2010s, the technology took over. Today, about 97% of new cars have touch screens, with nearly a quarter of them having 11-inch or larger screens.
Automakers have been eager to add new features to these screens. Some infotainment systems allow you to access iMessage or even Netflix from the driver's seat, while others use them to keep all the controls of the car in one place, usually behind the menu layer.
Tech companies have facilitated plans to further these displays, although it is not clear what exactly this situation looks like and when it will happen. Despite revealing the system in 2022, Apple has postponed its CARPLAY upgrade, but has not given a new release date. Google has become the preferred software provider during this period, but the trend of touch screens and digitization may be slowing down.
Although automakers seem to like infotainment screens, consumers are less enthusiastic about them. In 2024, only 15% of drivers said they wanted to showcase full-width infotainment. The lower-functioning windshield base shows a little popularity, but still only 18% of people planning to buy a new car.
The increasing driving force on vehicle touch screens is ultimately a matter of safety and convenience. Keeping all the controls in one place sounds useful, but it can be frustrating, slow and unsafe to complete the menu between menus while driving to find the correct settings. This also means that basic car functionality may be at the mercy of software failures and lags.
In 2021, Tesla had to recall vehicles because flash memory issues in Tesla's infotainment system made the rearview camera unviewable and kept the DeFrost and steering signal capabilities offline. Recently, a class action lawsuit against Stellantis claimed that the flawed infotainment screen caused the backup camera to fail and distracted the audio failure.
The same drawbacks, as well as the apparent distraction of the iPad in the central console, raise security issues. Navigating between menus focuses on the road, especially when adjusting settings more steps than ever before. Given that 6,000 pedestrians have died in traffic accidents every year, anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road is not ideal.
Some car brands have begun to deal with these problems by reducing the “screening” of vehicles. Volkswagen announced that it will bring back the physical buttons after opposing its heavier screen model. Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer said the reliance on touch screens “has done a lot of damage to the reputation of the brand’s frustrated drivers.”
Capital One’s automatic navigator is called “control” when the masses are transmitted to the touch screen-centric interface, just like many other reviewers. Yahoo Autos calls it the worst infotainment system they have ever encountered. Given these responses, it's easy to understand why the public wants to go back to the physical buttons.
Automakers may respond given the growing push for infotainment touch screens. However, they choose how to balance the requirements for safety and convenience with new technologies.
Some companies believe the solution is to keep digital displays, but will change how it works. BMW announced a new head-up display (HUD) at CES 2025, which provides more information at the bottom of the windshield rather than keeping it on the dashboard. As BMW board member Frank Weber explained, the system means “the driver decides what information he wants to show in his own field of view.” Infotainment-style customization is still there, but it is still within sight when looking at the road.
BMW's new HUD also allows drivers to control these settings through physical buttons on the steering wheel, not just the touch screen. This way, hands can stay on the steering wheel and eyes can keep moving forward. Hyundai and Kia follow a similar approach, giving users the choice between touch or simulated controls.
Voice commands have become another option. Mercedes launched Chatgpt-enabled voice control in 2023, and Apple gave Carplay voice functionality through iOS 18. These sounds don't make the screen go away, but they do provide a way to use them without having to get them off the steering wheel or line of sight.
As the industry explores these voice activation solutions, it is clear that the evolution of infotainment systems is far from over. Continuous attention to common issues should trigger some much-needed changes.
