- Mercedes backs big screens but says physical controls still matter to many buyers.
- All-electric GLC debuts with an expansive 39.1-inch display across the dashboard.
- Electric C-Class may inherit the GLC EQ’s massive wraparound screen setup.
Big screens are quickly becoming the defining feature of modern car interiors, and like it or not, Mercedes-Benz has made it clear that this design direction is here to stay. Shortly after unveiling the all-electric GLC EQ in Munich, the company confirmed that the same display-heavy approach will be carried into upcoming models, with owners given more opportunities to personalize their driving environment.
Read: Mercedes Boss Brutally Mocks Audi Concept Interior
While speaking with Auto Express on the sidelines of the Munich motor show in Germany this week, Mercedes board member for sales and marketing, Mattias Giesen, explained that the brand will use large screens alongside physical switches and controls for certain important functions.
The company likely thinks that this is the best way to remain at the forefront of in-vehicle technology, while still delivering some of the tactical options that consumers have grown accustomed to over the years.
Balancing Screens and Switches
Giesen emphasized that innovation should not be about novelty alone. “I think it’s important that we address different customer requirements,” he said. “We don’t want to be innovative for the sake of being innovative. We want to be innovative where it makes sense for the customer. This screen gives us a great opportunity, not just to put in a big screen, but to allow the customer to customize their whole vehicle experience. It’s not just a big screen.”
He added that, with the electric GLC, Mercedes has “brought back real switches on the steering wheel, because it was something customers said they weren’t happy with.” Chief software officer Magnus Ostberg noted that its internal data has shown that for the GLC, the buying demographic tends to be older and prefer traditional controls.
Ostberg explained further that preferences vary widely depending on age group, region, and even the size of the vehicle.
“In the GLC, you saw we put back the rollers because we see data that these physical buttons are very important for certain age groups and certain populations, so having that balance between physical buttons and the touch is extremely important for us,” he noted. “We’re really working on how we optimize it for the different regions, for the different age groups, and also for the different sizes of the vehicle.”
What’s Next for Mercedes
One of the next models expected to feature this blend of technology and tradition is the upcoming all-electric C-Class, set to compete with BMW’s future i3. While Mercedes has not yet revealed the interior, teaser images hint that the car will carry over design cues from the GLC EQ, including an illuminated grille treatment.
