A steering wheel is much more than just a car component – it connects the driver with the road via the tyres. The steering wheel provides feedback on driving behaviour, enables the driver to feel uneven road surfaces and, in the past, was the physical cranking mechanism for manoeuvring into parking spaces. A new era of vehicle operation is about to begin for Mercedes‑Benz customers – the company 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, i.e. “by wire”. The completely new steering feel provides an unparalleled customer experience with a wide range of advantages in everyday driving: handling is better and manoeuvring and parking become even easier. This is because steer-by-wire can further reduce the effort required and there is no longer a need to re-grip the steering wheel while parking.
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