This is not an improvement. You want your users to find and launch your app to change climate control settings? That is beyond ridiculous.
#Car makers need to stop putting everything behind touchscreens; operating a hand-eye-coordination video game is not what drivers should be doing while they drive.
Buttons, switches, and knobs can be operated by touch alone. They are superior to touchscreens for many commonly-used controls. Bonus: when designed well, they impart a sense of quality and luxury to your car’s driving experience that can’t be replicated by a touchscreen.