Followed By Lexus And Tesla, Mercedes-Benz Introduces 'Steer-By-Wire' System

The 'steer-by-wire' steering system from Mercedes-Benz. (Doc. Mercedes-Benz AG)

JAKARTA - Mercedes-Benz has again shown its commitment to being at the forefront of more sophisticated mobility development by introducing 'steer-by-wire' technology.

This technology is crucial in today's modern era because it aims to make it easier for drivers to drive their cars. According to the manufacturer, the system does not require a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. What's more, the steering wheel will be connected directly through an electric cable known as a by wire.

AG's Chief Technology Officer Development & Procurement Mercedes-Benz Group, Markus Schafer said that the technology is a major step for future mobility and will provide a different experience for customers and has been combined with the SAE Level 3 autonomous steering system.

"Combined with the conditional automatic driving of SAE Level 3, this technology will enable a deeper entertainment experience in the medium term," Markus said on the brand's official website, Wednesday, April 23.

According to Mercedes-Benz, this technology can provide an experience for users with better control in maneuvering and parking more easily than conventional systems.

This is because the driver does not need further effort to operate it so there is no need to grip the steering wheel again when parking the vehicle.

The German manufacturer also confirmed that the 'steer-by-wire' system will be present in a number of its mass production vehicles starting from 2026.

In addition to Mercedes-Benz, other manufacturers such as Tesla have innovated on this technology in advance and embedded in the Cybertruck model produced at the end of 2023.

Then, other luxury brands such as Lexus have also developed this innovation. The Japanese manufacturer has used it on RZ which offers a larger steering ratio of up to 200 degrees.

Honda has also established itself in presenting this system and will present it to the first model of Series 0. Although it has not been tested on various road conditions, the steering-by-wire can be an interesting innovation that will be presented to a number of vehicles in the future.