FYI: Volkswagen’s Upcoming Redesigns Bring Back Buttons and Unify Styles Across Models
Volkswagen is refreshing its ID.4 model with a redesigned front end set to debut by late next year. This update aligns its look with upcoming models like the ID.2 hatchback. Alongside aesthetic updates, the interior dashboard and user interface will also see significant changes.
Return of Physical Buttons
In a shift from the trend of touchscreen-only controls, Volkswagen is reintroducing physical buttons to its ID line of electric vehicles. Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen’s technical development head, revealed these changes to improve user experience. The transition will feature familiar tactile controls like a round volume knob, replacing the current capacitive sliders, which have been widely criticized for their impracticality.
Unified Design Language
Both the ID.3 and ID.4 models are set for front-end redesigns. These changes will integrate them more seamlessly into the design language of future models, especially the ID.2. Although the ID.3 won’t be a part of the U.S. market, European customers will notice these changes reflecting a cohesive brand identity across Volkswagen’s electric vehicle lineup.
Addressing Consumer Feedback
Volkswagen acknowledges the feedback from consumers and regulatory bodies concerning the safety issues tied to screen-dominant controls. Andreas Mint, head of design, emphasized that future models will feature physical buttons for essential functions like volume, heating, fans, and hazard lights, ensuring ease of use and enhancing driving safety.
Sales Performance and Market Response
Despite production halts due to recalls, the ID.4 remains a popular choice in the U.S., accounting for a significant portion of Volkswagen’s sales. The model saw a resurgence in sales in the first quarter with a 26% increase from the previous year. In Europe, the ID.4 played a crucial role in helping Volkswagen outpace Tesla in EV sales early in the year, according to JATO Dynamics.
Looking Ahead
Volkswagen aims to continue evolving its vehicle platform to keep pace with technological advances. By the decade’s end, they plan to introduce the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), promising a more software-defined vehicle architecture. In the interim, Volkswagen is committed to refreshing its current lineup, focusing on user-centered design changes.
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— William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
