Big infotainment screens in cars won’t last – BMW boss predicts safety backlash

Gigantic hi-tech infotainment screens could vanish from new cars within a decade, according to the CEO of BMW, Oliver Zipse.

The BMW executive warned they are a potential safety hazard.

“Driver distraction is the main source of accidents, not fast driving,” Mr Zipse told international media during a briefing at the Consumer Electronics Show in the US, reported by Automotive News..

The BMW boss made the comments as the German car-maker unveiled a potential solution to the problem – a full-width head-up display system which extends across the the windscreen.

The technology was shown on the BMW i Vision Dee which was unveiled at the technology expo.

One of the potential uses for BMW's display is advanced augmented-reality navigation.

The BMW executive said he is “absolutely convinced” the screens in the centre of dashboard, that require drivers to look away from the road, will soon be history.

“In 10 years, that is gone,” Zipse told US media.

Mr Zipse also believes the decision on eliminating distracting screens will not be made by consumers, but by legislators and safety authorities.

“Probably the regulator will not allow it,” he said.

Despite now trying to claim the moral and safety high road, BMW partnered last year with AirConsole – a Swiss company providing online games for any screen from the cloud – to provide what it describes as “casual gaming” in its cars, in a similar way already used by Tesla.

Appearing to ignore BMW's recent plans to introduce distraction to its cars, Mr Zipse says there needs to be a change.

“If you have to look down to operate your car, we think it's a big mistake,” he told US media.