Ferrari has enlisted former Apple design chief Jony Ive and partner Marc Newson to craft the interior tech for its Luce model. Ive criticizes large touchscreens, like those popularized by Tesla, as lazy and impractical for car cabins. He advocates for smaller, integrated screens combined with physical controls to enhance the driving experience.
Ferrari is moving away from the trend of massive touchscreens in vehicle interiors, enlisting Jony Ive, the former head of design at Apple, and Marc Newson to develop the tech components for the Ferrari Luce cabin. Published on February 14, 2026, reports highlight Ive's vision to integrate technology seamlessly into the driving experience, contrasting with the large-screen approach seen in many modern cars, including Tesla models.
Ive, known for designing the iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch, expressed strong reservations about oversized touchscreens in vehicles. "Yeah, I think a large touchscreen practically, functionally, doesn’t work. That’s incontrovertible," he told The Drive at a Ferrari press event. He described the concept as "easy and lazy," particularly when it dominates a car's cabin, requiring drivers to divert their attention from the road.
Instead, Ive proposes multiple small screens that blend with physical interfaces. The Ferrari Luce features a 10.12-inch OLED touchscreen in the center, accompanied by toggle switches and a glass volume knob. A dial on the upper-right of the steering wheel controls windshield wipers, with a tiny lens magnifying the settings for easy visibility.
This approach echoes findings from Mercedes-Benz, where 2025 research indicated drivers prefer buttons over excessive touchscreens. Mercedes chairman and CEO Ola Källenius noted, "You test it, and it works beautifully. But sometimes you have to take two steps backwards to take one step forward." Ive echoed safety concerns, stating, "I never would have used touch in a car [for the main controls]... It is something I would never have dreamed of doing because it requires you to look [away from the road]. So that’s just the wrong technology to be the primary interface."
Ive reflected on his Apple tenure, saying, "I think the tough thing is if you innovate, there will be unintended consequences. So it’s one of the reasons I’m not with the old company, and it’s one of the reasons I’m doing what I’m doing now. I take it very, very seriously." This collaboration aims to balance innovation with driver connection, avoiding overreliance on screens.
