GM won't change horizontal infotainment screens to vertical ones for safety reasons
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General Motors is not embracing the Tesla-style vertical display trend for one reason only: driver safety. The brand guarantees that looking down can distract the driver and lead to a terrible accident.
Interior design trends come in waves, and some automakers are trying to completely change it to make a difference. Take, for example, the evolution of the shifter in all its myriad forms. In any vehicle on the market, you'll find everything from the more familiar PRNDL order shifter next to your right foot, to dials, dash buttons, or thin rods on your steering column.
When large infotainment screens appeared a few years ago, automakers (especially Tesla) began experimenting with the orientation, shape, and integration of the screen itself. . However, truck interior designers are not immune to the temptation to play games, and some of them gravitate towards a prominent vertical orientation. However, there will be no GM trucks.
General Motors is committed to the horizontal design of its trucks and has no plans to change this at this time.
“Our full-size trucks are currently using horizontal screens to reinforce our design philosophy based on width and roominess,” says Chris Hilts, director of interior design at GM. “For example, we can fit the center passenger in the front row without sacrificing a large premium screen.”
Like many design elements, the vertical orientation of the screen is either admirable or frankly disappointing. Ram, for example, made a splash in 2019 with an updated 1500, including one with a huge vertical display that caused many paroxysms of delight.
The GM Authority news site featured a full review of screens from various brands.
"[A]t the horizontal approach makes even more sense when you consider that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display information in a horizontal rectangle format, and Tesla, known for its large vertically oriented screens, does not support either of these technologies."
From a safety point of view, it is essential to design the display in such a way that it provides an optimal view of the instrument panel while keeping the driver's attention on the road. Having a large screen with a lot of information available is useful in many ways, and car manufacturers are also following technology trends outside of the automotive world.
Be aware, however, that directing the driver's gaze downwards can be dangerous anyway, contributing to a distraction from driving. It is even argued that touch screens are generally a dangerous fad. Perhaps GM is on the right track; While its brands focus on freeing up the central bank with horizontal screens, it can also offer a higher level of security.
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