UPDATE 4/3/26: Mercedes has confirmed that the 2026 EQS sedan will serve as the launch vehicle for its new steer-by-wire system, complete with a yoke-style steering wheel. The company says the unconventional wheel shape creates a "more spacious interior feel," and it incorporates a redesigned airbag sized to suit its trimmer dimensions.
Mercedes-Benz is the latest automaker to enter the steer-by-wire arena, with the German brand set to introduce its first by-wire vehicle in the coming year. The technology eliminates the conventional mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels, replacing it with an electronic signal path — hence the "wire."
Mercedes touts a number of benefits over traditional mechanical steering. The company says the system delivers quicker response, sharper handling, improved maneuverability, and reduced steering effort. A variable steering ratio is also part of the package, which means the system speeds up inputs at low speeds — useful in parking lots — and slows them at highway velocities. Mercedes further claims that the system can "almost completely" filter out road surface feedback at the wheel, which the brand frames as a benefit. We're not entirely convinced.
Following the lead of steer-by-wire vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck and Lexus RZ, Mercedes will swap the traditional round wheel for a flat-bottomed yoke. Thanks to the variable ratio, the yoke design frees up driver legroom without forcing mid-maneuver hand shuffles. In what might read as a preview of things to come, Mercedes chief technology officer Markus Schäfer also noted that paired with SAE Level 3 autonomous driving capability, the yoke's flat top affords a clearer view of the dashboard display — "when streaming your favorite show, for example," as he put it.
To address safety concerns, Mercedes has fitted the system with full redundancy: doubled sensors and actuators, a backup data pathway, and a secondary power supply. Even in the event of a complete system failure, the vehicle remains steerable.
Accumulated across test benches, proving grounds, and real-world driving conditions, the system has logged over a million test miles. Mercedes identifies the technology as particularly well-suited to rear-wheel-steering-equipped models, citing the S-class and EQS sedans as prime candidates. The EQS, which is due for a mid-cycle update, appears to be the natural home for this new system's debut.
This story was originally published on April 22, 2025.
