Not a fan of the fiddly steering wheel touch controls used by the likes of the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI? Well, they may soon be a thing of the past…

The CEO of the Volkswagen brand has suggested the German automaker will soon ditch the controversial touch controls it has implemented on the steering wheels of certain high-end models, returning to traditional push-button items instead.

Thomas Schäfer, former head of VW Group South Africa but these days CEO of the global Volkswagen brand, announced the news in a LinkedIn post (first spotted by the eagle-eyed folks over at CarExpert).

In a post all about “listening carefully” to customers of the brand, Schäfer said VW had plans to “sharpen” its portfolio and design, while also “creating a new simplicity in operating our vehicles”.

“For example, we are bringing back the push-button steering wheel! That’s what customers want from VW,” he wrote, adding the Wolfsburg-based firm was “continually working on offering our customers what they really want”.

Will the upcoming facelifted version of the Golf 8 GTI revert to push-button steering wheel controls?

Volkswagen has in recent years made a big push towards digitalisation, with models such as the Golf 8 GTI, Golf 8 R and Tiguan R (plus high-end non-performance derivatives in certain model ranges, such the Tiguan R-Line) featuring touch-sensitive controls on their respective tillers.

Covering functions such as infotainment, cruise control, steering wheel heating, voice control and the make-up of the digital instrument cluster, many complained these sensitive touch controls – which respond to both swiping actions and more deliberate prods – were prone to inadvertent activation.

Interestingly, Schäfer’s post makes no mention of the similarly divisive digitalised controls – which include illuminated touch panels and sliders rather than physical knobs and buttons – used to manipulate the air-conditioning systems of such models. A separate digital panel is also used for light and vision functions.

It’s important to note Volkswagen certainly isn’t walking away from the idea of digitalisation in its vehicles, as Schäfer’s post mentions “electrification and digitalisation” as two of the most pressing automotive topics of the current age. Still, it now seems almost certainthe upcoming facelifted version of the Golf 8 performance twins will to revert to push-button steering wheel controls.

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