For Mazda it was also at least theoretically to reduce driver distraction and increase safety. I mostly believe them on that point, given how much they focus on safety ratings in other ways.
Re:PlayDate Fulfillment Delayed
by kube-system on Thursday November 11, 2021 @06:49PM
(#29194767)
Some of them were also mounted pretty far from the driver so they weren't easy to reach, and they had a dial to alternatively interact with them. The first few times I drove one, I didn't even know it was a touch screen.
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/11/05/bmws-losing-touchscreen-...
Slightly confusing since it's not the removal of the entire infotainment system, just the capacitive controller. The system is still controllable with the joydial. Seems like that's not really a $500 cost center, more of a way to appease the customer.
And some makers like Mazda pulled the captouch off their IVI with the recent generation of cars pre-COVID, it just wasn't worth the cost.