Mercedes-Benz is taking another major step into the future of automotive technology with the introduction of steer-by-wire technology for the EQS Saloon. The flagship electric luxury sedan becomes the first series-production passenger car from a German automotive manufacturer to offer a steering system without a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels.

The optional steer-by-wire system is available in Germany from €2,500 excluding VAT, or €2,975 including VAT. The package also includes rear-axle steering with a steering angle of up to 10 degrees and a newly developed, flatter steering wheel featuring a redesigned airbag structure.
For Mercedes-Benz, however, the significance of the technology goes far beyond simply making the EQS easier to park. Steer-by-wire changes the fundamental relationship between the driver and the car, while further establishing the EQS as the technological flagship of the Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle range.
Mercedes-Benz EQS Introduces Steer-by-Wire
Traditional steering systems use a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. In the EQS equipped with steer-by-wire, that physical connection is eliminated.
Instead, steering inputs are transmitted electronically through high-speed electrical signals. Sensors detect the driver’s steering input, while sophisticated control units translate it into precise movements at the wheels.
The result is a steering system that Mercedes-Benz says maintains the familiar precision and intuitiveness of its steering feel while providing substantially greater freedom in how the steering response is calibrated.
One of the most noticeable changes is the steering wheel itself. The new unit is flatter and more compact, creating additional visual and physical space in the EQS cabin.
Most importantly, the steering wheel requires only 170 degrees of rotation from lock to lock.
That is a significant departure from conventional steering systems and means the driver no longer needs to repeatedly reposition their hands during tight manoeuvres.
Easier Parking and Urban Driving
The benefits of steer-by-wire are particularly obvious at low speeds.
Parking, U-turns and manoeuvring in confined spaces require substantially less steering input, while the combination of steer-by-wire and rear-axle steering allows the EQS to change direction with considerably less effort.
Mercedes-Benz pairs the system with rear-axle steering capable of turning the rear wheels by up to 10 degrees. The two technologies work together to improve low-speed agility without compromising high-speed stability.
For a large luxury saloon such as the EQS, that is particularly important. Despite its substantial dimensions, the car should feel considerably more manageable in urban environments and parking garages than its size might initially suggest.
The reduced steering effort also means the driver does not need to constantly change hand position on the steering wheel during tight turns.
A More Refined Driving Experience
Steer-by-wire is not only about convenience. Mercedes-Benz says the technology also improves driving dynamics.

Because there is no mechanical steering shaft connecting the steering wheel with the front wheels, unwanted vibrations generated by potholes, uneven surfaces and other road imperfections can be filtered out before reaching the driver’s hands.
That creates the potential for a more refined driving experience without isolating the driver from the road completely.
Mercedes-Benz has also been able to tailor the steering response electronically, allowing the system to deliver the appropriate steering characteristics depending on driving conditions and vehicle speed.
The EQS therefore aims to combine the effortless nature expected from an electric luxury saloon with a more responsive and agile driving character.
Safety Remains a Central Focus
Removing the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels naturally raises questions about safety and redundancy.
Mercedes-Benz says its steer-by-wire system has been engineered with a redundant architecture designed to maintain steering capability even in the event of a highly unlikely component failure.
The system uses high-precision sensors, powerful control units and independent signal paths.
Mercedes-Benz has also developed additional strategies for maintaining lateral vehicle control in the unlikely event of a complete system failure. These include the use of rear-axle steering and targeted wheel-specific braking interventions through the ESP system.
The approach highlights one of the biggest advantages of software-controlled vehicle systems: steering characteristics can be managed through multiple electronic systems rather than relying exclusively on a single mechanical connection.
The EQS Gets a New Steering Wheel
The introduction of steer-by-wire has also allowed Mercedes-Benz to rethink the EQS steering wheel.

The new design is flatter and more compact than a conventional steering wheel, helping create a greater sense of openness inside the cabin.
It also improves the driver’s view of the instrument display and makes entering and exiting the vehicle easier.
The steering wheel is available in black or, depending on vehicle specification, beige. Its design is intended to complement the spacious, minimalist character of the EQS interior.
Mercedes-Benz has also developed a new airbag structure specifically for the steering wheel.
The result is a steering wheel that is not simply a different interface for the new steering system, but an important part of the overall interior redesign.
Mercedes-Benz EQS: More Than Just Steer-by-Wire
The new steering technology arrives only a few months after Mercedes-Benz significantly upgraded the EQS Saloon.
More than 25 percent of the vehicle’s components have been newly developed, updated or refined, while the car now benefits from a substantially revised electric architecture.
At the heart of the updated EQS is a new-generation 800-volt electrical architecture.
The flagship electric saloon also receives new in-house-developed drive units, a two-speed gearbox on the main rear axle drive and larger batteries featuring optimised cell chemistry.
Together, these technologies are intended to improve efficiency, performance and the overall long-distance capability of the EQS.
MB.OS Turns the EQS Into a Software-Defined Luxury Car
Another major part of the EQS technology package is Mercedes-Benz Operating System, or MB.OS.
Rather than treating software as a secondary feature, Mercedes-Benz has designed MB.OS as the central operating system for the vehicle.
It controls and integrates a wide range of vehicle functions and uses artificial intelligence, powerful computing hardware and a connection to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud.
The system also supports over-the-air updates, allowing the EQS to receive software improvements and new functions without requiring a traditional workshop visit.
This software-defined approach is particularly important when combined with steer-by-wire.
The steering system itself becomes another electronically controlled element of the vehicle, opening the door to more sophisticated calibration and future software-based improvements.
Mercedes-Benz Pushes Further Into the Software-Defined Era
The arrival of steer-by-wire in the Mercedes-Benz EQS represents a significant milestone for the German manufacturer.
For decades, steering has been one of the most fundamental mechanical interfaces between driver and vehicle. By replacing the traditional mechanical connection with an electronic architecture, Mercedes-Benz is effectively turning the steering system into another software-controlled component.
That fits naturally with the broader direction of the EQS.
The combination of steer-by-wire, rear-axle steering, 800-volt electrical architecture, new electric drive units, a two-speed rear gearbox, larger batteries and MB.OS makes the latest EQS considerably more technologically ambitious than the original model.
The goal is not simply to build an electric version of a conventional luxury sedan. Mercedes-Benz is attempting to redefine how a flagship luxury car interacts with its driver.
The EQS Becomes a Showcase for Mercedes-Benz Technology
As Mercedes-Benz’s flagship electric saloon, the EQS is an obvious candidate for introducing new technologies that could eventually spread across the wider model range.
Steer-by-wire is arguably one of the most important examples yet.
With a steering wheel that requires only 170 degrees of rotation, rear-wheel steering of up to 10 degrees and electronically controlled steering response, the EQS promises a combination of effortless manoeuvrability, improved refinement and sharper driving dynamics.
At the same time, the system demonstrates how Mercedes-Benz is moving away from traditional mechanical vehicle architectures toward software-defined cars.
The EQS has already established itself as a showcase for the company’s electric and digital technology. With steer-by-wire now entering series production, Mercedes-Benz is taking another significant step toward its vision of the next generation of luxury mobility.
Source: Mercedes-Benz









