Volkswagen has admitted the problems related to the touchscreen infotainment systems in its car, a concern that its customers have been raising in recent times. In a recent media interaction, Thomas Schafer, the current CEO at Volkswagen, has agreed that the new-generation touchscreen infotainment systems offered in some of the all-new generation products like the new Golf and all-electric cars from the ID range like the ID.4, are not smooth in their operations. Addressing this issue, Schafer agrees that the company will be rolling out a new update for the same within the next two years.

Recently, the owners of new-generation Volkswagen offerings, like all the fully-electric models of the ID range and the new Golf, are reportedly raising concerns about the less user-friendliness of the digital infrastructure offered in them, which is called MIB3. In his media interaction during the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, Thomas Schafer admitted that in a rush to develop and launch the new-generation vehicles, the research and development teams came up with different ideas, which might not have gone well with the users.

Related: 5 Of The Best Car Infotainment Systems Ever Vs 5 Of The Worst

What All Reasons Lead To The Recognition By Volkswagen?

Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen

According to the users of new-generation Volkswagen cars, the new infotainment systems lack responsiveness while also not being user-frieldly. Many core functions of the cars are embedded in the touchscreen systems and menus makingthem difficult to navitgate. Even YouTuber Doug DeMuro pointed out the flaws of the infotainment system in his review of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The DeMuro pointed out two major flaws in the infotainment system during his review of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, with the first one related to its design. DeMuro claimed that the infotainment system is not intuitive to use, a sentiment shared by the owners of this car and other new-generation Volkswagens. The controls of a few other functions, including climate controls, are integrated into the system, which is not too convenient to use while on the go.

To operate climate control, one has to press the ‘Clima’ button between the central air vents, after which the climate control settings pop up on the screen, and then the user can change the settings. Due to this procedure, a simple one-step process of changing climate settings has become a more complicated two-step process, which requires deviation of the driver’s attention towards the screen from the road ahead. Even the stereo volume control has a complicated process to use. Doug also pointed out that the touchscreen is not too responsive as it should have been.

The second issue pointed out by Doug in his review, also faced by owners of new Volkswagens, is about the screen size, which is small to make multitasking difficult. Volkswagen has integrated many features in the screen behind multiple menus, thus avoiding the requirement of a dedicated vehicle function screen.

What All Revisions Will Volkswagen Introduce In Its Infotainment Systems?

Infotainment system of 2022 Volkswagen Golf R
via Volkswagen

Based on the feedback received from customers and journalists, Volkswagen has admitted the issues related to the infotainment systems and has started working on improvements. According to Car Magazine UK, Volkswagen will bring in software updates before Winter 2022. However, he also said that the physical updates and revised steering wheels might take some more time to roll out, which can take up to 18 months.

While the new 3.0 software update will come in a few weeks, Volkswagen will switch back to physical buttons on the steering wheel, replacing the capacitive sliders, which buyers think are not too intuitive to use. Under the new update, Volkswagen will also work to improve the lack of illumination on capacitive sliders placed below the touchscreen infotainment systems. Due to this, the owners of Volkswagen ID.4 and Cupra Formentor have raised concerns about not being able to see the volume or heating controls sometimes.

For this, Volkswagen will bring in illuminated controls for these functions, which are coming next year. In addition to these updates, Schafer has also confirmed that the new, improved systems will be faster, better equipped, and quicker in their OTA updates with new features.

Related: Why Do Cars Still Have Infotainment Systems When Cell Phones Exist?

Other Updates Planned By Volkswagen For Uniform Functionality

Interiors of 2022 Volkswagen ID.5
via Volkswagen 

Apart from the issues mentioned above, the users of the new-generation Volkswagens have also reported the less user-friendliness of the touchscreens, which has made them feel more difficult to use rather than making their lives easier. For instance, the climate control buttons and many other crucial and desirable features are integrated into the system, which is not too intuitive to use while on the go.

Volkswagen is learning from its mistakes and is working on making the systems more user-friendly with a new standard of switchgear and layout across all models. He also said that the company will conduct monthly checks to monitor the development to make them more convenient for use. For these checks, the company will take the feedback of random people across all age groups to find if the system is equally easy to use by all.