1884
VW Is Putting Buttons Back in Cars Because People Complained Enough
(www.thedrive.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
I don't think autonomous driving had anything to do with the initial choice. It might be a reason now, but I don't think it was the initial driving factor.
You left off it being marketed as clean and minimalistic. I think that's different enough from futuristic. Some people love that aspect, some outright hate it. (Edit and I mean this in a looks fashion, not a functionality one)