Ford will be reverting back to offering in-car systems with physical controls rather than touchscreens and voice recognition, according to a report. The move will remove some of the added complexity of its Sync and MyFord Touch systems, in favor of the buttons and knobs that drivers are used to adjusting while driving.
Global product development chief Raj Nair told the Wall Street Journal that drivers were frustrated by not being able to quickly change the volume or radio station using a traditional knob. Alongside the additional buttons, the control panels will continue to be available to users, albeit in a much simpler form.
It is believed that around 80-percent of customers opt for Sync or MyFord with their purchase, with the company believing that those using the additional control system are more satisfied. “The satisfaction is higher on the vehicles equipped with MyFord Touch than without,” said Nair, continuing “We’ve been able to spend a lot of time with customers to find out what exactly are the areas that are bothering them.”
The introduction of MyFord Touch to the Ford fleet hasn’t been without its problems. Shortly after its introduction, Ford suffered in its quality survey ratings for both 2011 and 2012, and the company has also spent time working on software updates for existing systems, improving voice recognition and simplifying the layout.
