What car introduced the first production touchscreen infotainment system in 1986?

The Buick Riviera introduced the first production touchscreen infotainment system in 1986. Its Graphic Control Center used a 9-inch monochrome CRT touchscreen mounted in the dashboard.

The system combined controls that are now familiar in modern vehicles: radio and graphic equalizer settings, climate control, trip-computer functions, maintenance reminders, and diagnostic information. It was an unusually advanced feature for a decade when most dashboards relied on knobs, sliders, and physical buttons.

The touchscreen appeared in the seventh-generation Riviera, which was substantially downsized for 1986 and powered by a Buick 3.8-liter V6. The technology was also shared with other GM products, including the Oldsmobile Toronado Troféo, but the Riviera is generally credited as the first production car to offer this type of touchscreen control center.

The system was innovative but not especially popular. Some drivers found the green-on-black display distracting and difficult to use, and the technology disappeared from the Riviera after a short run. Modern LCD infotainment screens would not become widespread until decades later.