--- title: "VW CEO Admits ‘Frustrating’ No-Button Interiors Have Damaged VW’s Reputation" description: "Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer admits that the current interior design language is frustrating and future cars will be better." date: "2023-06-20" modified: "2023-06-20" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/vw-ceo-admits-frustrating-golf-id-4-interiors-did-a-lot-of-damage" categories: - "Car Tech" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Volkswagen News" tags: - "suv/crossover" - "Tiguan" - "Volkswagen" --- # VW CEO Admits ‘Frustrating’ No-Button Interiors Have Damaged VW’s Reputation ![]() You can't read about the [Volkswagen]() [ID.4]() or the [Mk8 GTI ]()without two paragraphs worth of complaints about their poor interiors. The complaints aren't about the build quality or even the overall designs, but about their maddening ergonomics and switchgear. It's apparently gotten so bad that the Volkswagen CEO has now taken notice—and is even promising serious improvement. "We had frustrated customers who shouldn't be frustrated," VW CEO Thomas Schäfer recently told *[Autocar]()*. He even went as far as saying that these "frustrating" interiors "definitely did a lot of damage" among loyal customers. What makes [VW's]() current interior design language so frustrating? VW's newest products are currently filled with touch-sensitive buttons and sliders that rarely work properly, are difficult to operate, and feel cheap. Making matters worse, many of the buttons aren't even backlit, so you can't see them at night. Then there's the ID.4, which only has two window switches on the driver's door, with a separate button that shifts their controls between the front and rear windows. It's an overly complicated solution to a problem that didn't exist. ![]() **2024 Tiguan Interior** However, Schäfer claims that VW is carefully considering each button, switch, and touchscreen control to make sure they're not only intuitive but also feel nice. "Should it be a button? Should it be a switch? And then you can work on the aesthetics of it. When you do buttons, it's better to do few buttons, but really nice buttons—like an airplane: what are the haptics of it?" He also said that continuity is important. Schäfer wants customers to feel at home in every Volkswagen product, so he doesn't want interior designs to change radically from generation to generation, as they did from the Mk7 to the Mk8 GTI, for instance. One of the first global cars to benefit from this new interior design approach will be the next-generation 2024 VW Tiguan, whose interior was recently teased. The new Tiguan gets a massive new touchscreen infotainment system but it also gains a rotary dial on the center console—similar to Audi's old MMI system and BMW's iDrive—which is said to control volume and drive modes. The steering also mercifully regains physical buttons. This is music to the ears of frustrated Volkswagen fans, who were disappointed by the brand's recent interior design switch. Volkswagen hears you and is making changes. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()