This is one of the FEW times I agree with people complaining.
They're also going to complain about the fix.... which looks like full width Lincoln style screens.
I'm not supposed to know this but (ex in my case) product planners talk.
This is 100000% a people and politics problem in Germany.
1) Management has 0 clue what to do with software.
If the software supported 'x' feature, they'd put a checkmark on their PRINTED excel spreadsheet: there was NO requirement for reducing # of clicks/being intuitive in general.
C-suite fixed this by buying
Rivian.
2) No, the engineers don't need more autonomy.
Their product development is stuck in old ways which costs a shit ton of money so they:
Overspent on fixed engineering/tooling costs for legacy shit.
Underspent on value engineering so stuff works better with HEV/PHEV/EVs.
3) Badging/steering wheel BS happened because a VP needed to keep headcount.
C-Suite fixed this by starting a new team at Scout to move fast .. and "inspire" the rest of the company.
VW will be in a wheelchair in a decade.
GM, Ford, BMW, MB, Toyota, BYD and Geely will be the only ones left standing.