Overview

• Mercedes will reintroduce tactile controls across its lineup, beginning with a newly developed steering wheel for the electric GLC and the CLA Shooting Brake.
• The new wheel adds switches, rotary controllers and paddles, and Mercedes plans to retrofit it to existing ranges starting this year with the refreshed CLA sedan.
• Executives say the company’s data shows frequent functions work better with dedicated hardware, with additional buttons most likely to appear first in larger SUVs.
• Input layouts may vary by region, with more mechanical switches expected in Europe and greater reliance on touch and voice in Asian markets.
• The move coincides with Mercedes’ largest MBUX Hyperscreen debut in the new GLC and parallels Volkswagen’s button revival as Euro NCAP readies HMI criteria for 2026.