Abstract: In a rotatable hand actuating element for adjustment drives on automobiles, especially a handwheel assembly for actuation of a sliding roof, consisting of a handwheel (2) and a mounting plate (1) on which the handwheel is rotatably journalled, at least one incandescent lamp (18) is housed in addition to the drive components in the internal space (17) of the handwheel, the light from which lamp passes out through at least one translucent wall surface of the handwheel. As a result the handwheel assembly also becomes the lighting fixture for the automobile interior illumination, with the result that additional lighting fixtures are rendered unnecessary. On the mounting plate, a switch (21) for the incandescent lamp or lamps may be mounted which, starting from a neutral position, can be switched as desired into a switched-on position or possibly a door contact position.