Mazda, Once the Loudest Critic of Touchscreens, Now Says They're Safer Than Buttons: TDS

Mazda has reversed its stance on in-car interfaces, arguing touchscreens are safer than physical buttons. Koichiro Yamaguchi, CX-5 program manager, noted that air conditioning can be operated with a finger and that if a physical control is required, it should be placed lower to avoid drivers looking down at a wall of similar switches. He argued that touchscreens minimize eye-off-road time compared with button-heavy layouts. The roundup also highlights a broader wave of industry moves, including Stellantis’ Ram growth plan, Jaguar Land Rover considering U.S.-based production to avoid tariffs, Ford’s new Super Duty with a Proud to Honor package, Ferrari nudging buyers toward the Luce EV, and the Jeep Recon’s 222-mile EPA rating. Taken together, these stories reflect how safety, electrification and on-road performance are shaping product strategies across the sector.