Method and apparatus for varying a position of at least one component of an infotainment system in the interior of a vehicle

A method for altering a position of a touch screen of an in-vehicle infotainment system in a vehicle interior with a person in a driver seat of the vehicle interior, the method comprising:

• ascertaining a travel mode of the vehicle of a plurality of travel modes comprising a first travel mode and a second travel mode, wherein the first travel mode involves the vehicle being driven by the person in the driver seat and the second travel mode involves the vehicle not being driven by the person in the driver seat;
• determining, by a control device, that the person switches the travel mode of the vehicle from the first travel mode to the second travel mode;
• ascertaining, by the control device, that a steering wheel of the vehicle is in a first position in the vehicle interior;
• ascertaining, by the control device, that the touch screen is in a second position, wherein the second position of the touch screen is located in a combination instrument panel of the vehicle interior, wherein the first position of the steering wheel is closer in proximity to the person than the second position of the touch screen;
• and
• in response to ascertainment that the vehicle is in the second travel mode, by the control device, moving the steering wheel from the first position to a third position in the vehicle interior, moving the touch screen with a movement device from the second position to a fourth position in the vehicle interior through an opening in the steering wheel such that the fourth position of the touch screen is moved closer in proximity to the person than the third position of the steering wheel,
• wherein, in response to the touch screen being moved to the fourth position through the opening of the steering wheel, a size of the touch screen is altered by the control device such that the touch screen at the fourth position is within a manual reach of the person in the driver seat without a need of reaching the steering wheel which is at the third position behind the touch screen and is out of reach from the person in the second travel mode.