Overview
- Mercedes has made a steer-by-wire system orderable for the EQS that removes the physical link between the steering wheel and the front axle and sends driver commands electrically to actuators.
- The option is priced at €2,975 and includes a newly shaped, flattened Yoke steering wheel and rear-axle steering that provides up to 10 degrees of toe to reduce the car’s turning circle to 10.90 meters.
- Mercedes and supplier ZF developed the system together and say the design cuts low-speed steering travel to 170 degrees so drivers can maneuver without regripping the wheel.
- To address safety concerns from losing a mechanical connection, Mercedes says the system uses a redundant architecture with independent signal paths to preserve control if a component fails.
- The company presents the EQS as the first German production model to offer steer-by-wire, a step that follows a wider shift by luxury EV makers toward electronic vehicle-control systems and different cabin ergonomics.