Mercedes-Benz to offer steer-by-wire technology from 2026

Mercedes‑Benz will be the first German car manufacturer to offer a production vehicle with steer-by-wire from 2026. This technology does not require a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Instead, the driver’s steering requests are transmitted quickly and directly via an electrical cable.

“Steer-by-wire is another big step towards the mobility of tomorrow, and we’re proud that we will be launching such a system in 2026. The technology enables a unique customer experience that goes far beyond steering alone. In combination with SAE Level 3 conditionally automated driving, it will enable an even more immersive entertainment experience in the medium term. That’s because the flat steering wheel provides a better view of the display when streaming your favourite show, for example.” – Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement

The new steer-by-wire system from Mercedes-Benz has already completed more than one million test kilometres on test benches. On top of that there is a similar number of test kilometres on proving grounds and in the validation of complete vehicles in road traffic.

In line with its high safety standards, Mercedes‑Benz relies on a redundant system architecture in addition to high-precision sensors and high-performance control units. This means that there are basically two signal paths and thus twice the number of actuators required, as well as a redundant on-board data and power supply.