Automakers Are Beginning to Rethink Overcomplicated Car Tech
Have you driven a new car recently and found yourself wondering why a particular piece of technology even exists? You’re not alone. Automakers are starting to take note, and some of this tech is slowly disappearing.
Ram is one of the latest brands facing this reality, specifically with its passenger dashboard screens. A recent drive of the new Ram Heavy Duty trucks revealed a glaring issue. While the trucks themselves are impressive, with features making towing easy and comfortable, the tech isn’t always a hit.
One such feature is the 10.25-inch infotainment display for the front passenger. The screen allows passengers to watch movies, play games, set navigation, and control music or the truck’s cameras. But is it truly necessary? Automakers are finding the answer might be no.
No Buttons? No Thanks
Ram isn’t the only automaker packing vehicles with arguably excessive technology. Back in 2021, the Volkswagen ID.4 AWD was introduced, with a button-less design. The push for minimalism led Volkswagen to replace physical buttons with touch-capacitive sliders and menu options. They even changed the steering wheels, replacing functional buttons with touch-sensitive ones. What didn’t help was that these features lacked backlighting, making them even less user-friendly.
Critics have pointed out the difficulty of using these touch controls while driving and the need to take your eyes off the road. Removing the rear window switches on the driver’s door and replacing them with touch-capacitive switches added to the frustration.
This trend extends to other automakers like Tesla, which controversially eliminated buttons, opting to house nearly everything behind a central screen. BMW and Hyundai have also favored removing buttons in favor of controls on screens.
Who Asked For This?
Beyond the lack of buttons, there are other examples of questionable features. An Audi S5 test drive revealed tech that raised the question of who exactly uses it. While some features, like the headlights and taillights were impressive, the lack of buttons and the passenger screen again stood out. The question arose: why use the car’s screen when a phone provides the same functionality?
Many car owners prefer to use their phones for entertainment, which is a simpler, more familiar process. Furthermore, native operating systems in car infotainment systems are often clunky when compared to the ease of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Automotive advancements like always-illuminated dashboards have also drawn criticism. The drivers of many cars are unaware that their headlights are off because they’re distracted by their dashboards being lit up. Voice and gesture controls add to the list of unnecessary tech, leaving many drivers unhappy.
Recent reports suggest that customer satisfaction with car tech is down, and automakers are taking notice.
VW is taking steps to reverse course. Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt stated, “We will never, ever make this mistake any more. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing any more. There’s feedback, it’s real, and people love this. Honestly, it’s a car. It’s not a phone: it’s a car.”
Ram’s Passenger Screen: A Miss?
During a press dinner, Ram’s Chief Vehicle Synthesis Engineer, Doug Killian, admitted that passenger screens might be a misstep. Ram’s research indicates that few people actually use them, as most people already have smartphones. Some drivers also experience motion sickness when using these screens. A simple storage box is sometimes preferred instead of the digital screen.
Some passengers would prefer storage over a screen. The space taken up by the passenger screen could be a useful storage area. Ram is considering customer feedback and may offer alternatives. The company’s willingness to adapt suggests that automakers are realizing there might be such a thing as too much tech. Striking a balance between advanced features and ease of use is essential, and recognizing that sometimes, simple truly is better.
