{
  "id": 18015289,
  "title": "Buttons are back and storage is king when it comes to car interiors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/buttons-are-back-and-storage-is-king-when-it-comes-to-car-interiors",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-03T18:19:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/11/yes-to-storage-no-to-piano-black-how-car-interior-design-is-changing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In recent years, the trend of minimalist car interiors has come under scrutiny, with drivers and designers alike expressing concerns about the usability and practicality of such designs. While some believed that eliminating physical switches and opting for all-software control would save costs and streamline production, the reality proved otherwise.\n\nHiren Patel, a senior design manager at Nissan, admitted that the minimalist approach was initially thought to be a money-saving measure. However, the backlash from consumers quickly became apparent. Many drivers found it inconvenient to have to divert their focus from the road to adjust various vehicle settings. This issue was exacerbated by the fact that the software-controlled interfaces often proved to be less intuitive than those found on smartphones.\n\nAs people increasingly rely on their vehicles for daily transportation, the notion that cars should be treated as purely software experiences has come into question. Patel emphasized that the shortcomings of this trend should not be overlooked, as the true purpose of a car is to provide a safe and convenient mode of transportation, not just a stylish object on a showroom floor.",
  "summary": "We talk with Nissan designer Hiren Patel about how vehicle interior designs are changing.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}