Operating device intended to be installed in a vehicle

An operating device intended to be installed in a vehicle, comprising:

• a housing,
• an operating element which is movably mounted in and/or on the housing and can be manually transferred from a rest position to a function-triggering position,
• a switch which can be actuated by the operating element when the operating element is manually transferred to the function-triggering position,
• a holding-force generation unit for generating a holding force by means of which the operating element is held in its rest position,
• a control unit for electrically controlling the holding-force generation unit for the purpose of setting the holding force, and
• a contact sensor system for detecting a contacting of the operating element, the contact sensor system outputting a sensing signal to the control unit when contacting an operating panel is detected,
• wherein the operating element comprises an operating surface having several operating panels spaced apart from each other and defining an inactive region between the operating panels,
• wherein the contact sensor system only upon sensing contacting of one of the operating panels provides a sensing signal to the control unit for releasing the rest position holding force, such that the rest position holding force is only released when the contact sensor system senses contacting of one of the operating panels of the operating surface, and
• wherein the control unit is configured to control the holding-force generation unit to set a desired holding force acting in the rest position of the operating element when one of the operating panels is contacted, wherein the desired holding force is lower than the holding force with which the operating element is held when one of the operating panels is not contacted or before being contacted.