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Capacitive controls could be the cause of a spate of VW ID.4 crashes

Unlike buttons, capacitive controls require just the slightest touch to activate.

Of all the recent trends in automotive technology and design, the adoption of capacitive controls over mechanical switches and buttons—particularly on multifunction steering wheels—is among the most deplorable. In addition to reporting the incidents to NHTSA, ID.4 owners have been sharing information online, but as is often true in cases of unintended acceleration, they have been greeted with as much skepticism as sympathy. In October 2022, the head of VW Passenger Cars Thomas Schäfer announced that due to overwhelming customer feedback, "we are bringing back the push-button steering wheel!

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