Euro NCAP Demands Physical Buttons Over Car Touchscreens

The Euro NCAP Safe Driving protocol is an automotive safety evaluation standard implemented by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) to penalise excessive touchscreen reliance in vehicles. Introduced in early 2026, it mandates dedicated physical controls for critical driving functions to eliminate hazardous sub-menu navigation, directly influencing vehicle designs entering Malaysia such as the Proton e.MAS 5.

Key Facts

Which Driving Functions Mandate Physical Buttons Under Euro NCAP?

Euro NCAP mandates that turn signal indicators, windscreen wiper and washer systems, hazard warning lights, the horn, and the automated emergency eCall button must operate via separate physical buttons or tactile switches. Automakers can no longer bury these five core driving functions inside centre touchscreen infotainment menus to attain top vehicle assessment ratings.

According to assessment guidelines reported by CAR Magazine, the 2026 evaluation separates primary driving controls from auxiliary comfort and infotainment menus. While comfort and air-conditioning adjustments may retain screen-based inputs, primary safety features require immediate, direct tactile engagement to curb visual distraction on public roads.

The safety assessment body wants essential controls to be easily reached and operated without requiring drivers to search for functions through menus on the screen.

CAR Magazine / Careta Report (15 October 2026)

Under the 2026 Euro NCAP protocols, vehicles must provide dedicated physical buttons or switches for hazard lights, indicators, wipers, the horn, and eCall to secure full primary control safety points.

How Did 2026 Tested Electric and Luxury Models Score on Physical Controls?

Testing under the 2026 protocols revealed severe score divergences across electric and luxury models, despite all candidates achieving five-star overall ratings. The Kia EV2 scored 100 percent in both basic and comfort controls, the Audi Q7 recorded 90 percent overall, and the Xpeng X9 achieved only 20 percent for basic controls.

The Audi Q7 registered 100 percent for basic controls alongside 80 percent for comfort and infotainment, reflecting interior revisions following prior customer criticism regarding Volkswagen Group touchscreen cabins. In contrast, the Xpeng X9 managed 80 percent for comfort and infotainment but dropped to 50 percent overall in driving control usability due to its 20 percent basic controls rating. However, the Xpeng X9 led in collision protection at 91 percent (versus 88 percent for the Q7 and 86 percent for the EV2) and crash prevention at 82 percent (compared to 77 percent for the Q7 and 66 percent for the EV2). Audi also logged the first-ever 100 percent post-crash safety score, whilst X9 logged 91 percent and EV2 logged 89 percent.

The Kia EV2 and BMW iX3 both recorded a flawless 100 percent score for basic physical driving controls during 2026 Euro NCAP evaluations.

How Does the Ruling Affect Chinese EVs and the Proton e.MAS 5 in Malaysia?

The ruling directly impacts Chinese electric vehicles imported into Malaysia, as most manufacturers heavily centralise cockpit functions into digital touchscreens. The Geely E2—marketed as the Geely Xingyuan in China and serving as the architectural twin to Malaysia's Proton e.MAS 5—emerged as the sole Chinese EV to achieve high compliance.

Tested for the European market, the Geely E2 achieved an 80 percent physical control rating by retaining crucial manual buttons, matching the Cupra Raval. Other Chinese models registered severe penalties under the new framework: both the Zeekr 7GT and Aion UT scored 20 percent, while the Leapmotor B05 scored zero percent. In tropical Malaysian driving conditions—such as sudden monsoonal cloudbursts along the North-South Expressway—drivers in buttonless electric vehicles face dangerous delays if windscreen wiper controls are hidden inside multi-tier digital displays.

The Geely E2, which shares mechanical underpinnings with the Malaysian-market Proton e.MAS 5, scored 80 percent in Euro NCAP physical control evaluations.

How Do 2026 ADAS Evaluations Track Driver Attention?

Euro NCAP 2026 protocols examine how Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) respond dynamically to the driver's current cognitive engagement. Systems installed on the Audi Q7 and Kia EV2 deliver gentle steering nudges when drivers remain focused, transitioning to forceful corrective steering interventions only when driver eye-tracking or sensory monitoring detects inattention.

Evaluations also include a rigorous 2,000 km real-world road test across Europe to benchmark ADAS behaviour against varied driving situations. During this long-distance assessment, the speed assistance system on the Xpeng X9 received formal criticism from inspectors for failing to meet Euro NCAP operating benchmarks. Notably, CAR Magazine highlighted that Euro NCAP did not publish empirical crash data proving a direct causal link between touchscreen usage and elevated accident collision rates during the announcement.

Euro NCAP 2,000 km road testing monitors whether lane-keeping ADAS applies gentle interventions when a driver is attentive and firmer corrections when distraction occurs.

How It Compares for Malaysian Users

Malaysian road users navigating dense traffic in the Klang Valley or rural trunk roads face distinct environmental pressures. While models tested under 2025 protocols like the BYD Shark (evaluated using Australasian ANCAP data) and Mazda 2 Hybrid (four stars, using Toyota Yaris data) avoided these cabin layout penalties, upcoming 2026 imports will reflect these cabin design shifts.

Common Questions

Are BYD Shark and Mazda 2 Hybrid subject to the 2026 button rules?

No, the BYD Shark and Mazda 2 Hybrid were evaluated under 2025 assessment protocols. Consequently, neither vehicle was evaluated against the mandatory 2026 physical button and switch scoring criteria.

Why did the Xpeng X9 receive five stars despite poor button scores?

The Xpeng X9 compensated with top-tier passive safety scores, including 91 percent in crash protection, 82 percent in crash prevention, and 91 percent in post-crash safety, preserving its five-star rating despite a 20 percent basic control score.

Does the Proton e.MAS 5 platform retain physical controls?

Yes, its platform architecture twin, the European-specification Geely E2 (Geely Xingyuan), secured an 80 percent score by preserving dedicated tactile buttons, outperforming Chinese rivals like the Zeekr 7GT, Aion UT, and Leapmotor B05.

Sources and Methodology

This article synthesises safety testing reports and regulatory updates originally published by Careta (authored by Qalif Latif, 15 October 2026), incorporating vehicle testing records cited from CAR Magazine and official Euro NCAP assessment releases. Editorial localisation translates original Malay reporting into standard British English while retaining specific manufacturer designations, model classifications, and published test metrics. This article was last updated on 15 October 2026. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against Careta automotive industry coverage.