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Mercedes Design Chief Rebukes Audi and BMW Interiors, Warns on AI at Munich Show

Audi and BMW had not responded to the criticism at the time of reporting.

Overview

  • Gorden Wagener criticized Audi’s Concept C cabin as “designed in 1995,” calling it too minimal and light on tech, with coverage noting its retractable 10.4-inch screen and reports of a production model targeted for 2027.
  • He faulted BMW’s Neue Klasse iX3 Panoramic iDrive that spans beneath the windscreen, arguing the distant 43.3-inch display is hard to read, distracting, and forces a secondary 17.9-inch touchscreen that creates non‑intuitive, multi‑level information.
  • Wagener framed his stance against rivals within Mercedes’ own strategy, pointing to the GLC with EQ Technology and its available 39.1-inch Hyperscreen as an example of the large, clearly readable displays he believes mainstream users expect.
  • On design tools, he said generative AI delivers “99 per cent” poor, non‑brand‑specific results and lamented AI car renders on social media as a “real problem” that dilutes the impact of genuine concept reveals.
  • He predicted growing voice control via large language models but maintained that drivers still need strong visual references on screens, underscoring a broader split in how brands envision the next phase of in‑car interfaces.