An operating unit for a vehicle comprising - a housing, - an operating element having an operating interface comprising a plurality of symbol fields to which, when the operating element is actuated, triggerable operating functions are assigned, - wherein the operating element is arranged at a support structure in a condition as being resettable and being able to be pressed down by an actuation object, in particular by the finger of a hand, - a controllable press-down force threshold switching device for switching the force to be overcome for pressing down the operating element between a first threshold value and a second threshold value which is smaller as compared to the first threshold value, and vice versa, - an actuation sensor system for detecting whether the actuation object, when actuating the operating element, comes into contact with the latter within one of the symbol fields of the operating interface, and - an evaluation and control unit receiving signals from the actuation sensor system or from the actuation sensor system, among others, and causing, by changing its control, the press-down force threshold switching device or the press-down force threshold switching device, among others, to switch from the first threshold to the second threshold only when the actuation object within one of the symbol fields is in contact with the operating interface when the operating element is actuated, characterized in that - the press-down force threshold switching device comprises at least one electromagnet having a stator and an armature which are movable relative to each other, and a coil, and - either the armature is mounted to the operating element or to an element mechanically connected to the operating element at and/or in the housing, or the stator is either mounted to the operating element or to an element mechanically connected to the operating element, and the armature is mounted to and/or in the housing. - a housing, - an operating element having an operating interface comprising a plurality of symbol fields to which, when the operating element is actuated, triggerable operating functions are assigned, - wherein the operating element is arranged at a support structure in a condition as being resettable and being able to be pressed down by an actuation object, in particular by the finger of a hand, - a controllable press-down force threshold switching device for switching the force to be overcome for pressing down the operating element between a first threshold value and a second threshold value which is smaller as compared to the first threshold value, and vice versa, - an actuation sensor system for detecting whether the actuation object, when actuating the operating element, comes into contact with the latter within one of the symbol fields of the operating interface, and - an evaluation and control unit receiving signals from the actuation sensor system or from the actuation sensor system, among others, and causing, by changing its control, the press-down force threshold switching device or the press-down force threshold switching device, among others, to switch from the first threshold to the second threshold only when the actuation object within one of the symbol fields is in contact with the operating interface when the operating element is actuated, - the press-down force threshold switching device comprises at least one electromagnet having a stator and an armature which are movable relative to each other, and a coil, and - either the armature is mounted to the operating element or to an element mechanically connected to the operating element at and/or in the housing, or the stator is either mounted to the operating element or to an element mechanically connected to the operating element, and the armature is mounted to and/or in the housing.