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Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQB Battery Recall: More Than 51,000 Electric SUVs Face Replacements Through 2028

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Mercedes-Benz is facing a major battery replacement campaign affecting more than 51,000 EQA and EQB electric SUVs worldwide. The recall targets certain EQA 250+ and EQB 250+ models built between 2021 and 2024, with potentially dangerous battery defects creating a risk of internal short circuits and vehicle fires. Replacement work is not expected to begin before the fourth quarter of 2026 and could continue through 2028.

Mercedes-Benz has been forced to take more decisive action over a high-voltage battery defect affecting thousands of its electric vehicles, following a court ruling in Germany that exposed the legal consequences of an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem through a software update.

Although the EQA and EQB have already been discontinued in some markets, the battery issue remains a significant concern for owners of affected vehicles. The case also highlights a wider challenge facing the electric vehicle industry: resolving serious battery safety defects can be expensive, technically complicated and painfully slow.

Mercedes-Benz Battery Recall Affects More Than 51,000 Vehicles

The battery replacement campaign, identified by recall reference SR/01226/25, covers certain Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+ and EQB 250+ electric SUVs equipped with a 70.5 kWh high-voltage battery.

According to information provided by the German law firm Dr. Stoll & Sauer, which is handling the legal case, the affected vehicles were manufactured between February 20, 2021, and January 23, 2024.

The campaign reportedly covers more than 51,000 vehicles worldwide. However, owners should verify their vehicle identification number (VIN) with Mercedes-Benz to establish whether their particular car is included.

The principal concern is the possibility of an internal short circuit within the high-voltage battery. Under certain circumstances, such a defect could lead to a thermal event and, in the worst-case scenario, a vehicle fire.

For an automaker that has invested heavily in electrification and premium engineering, a defect involving one of the most expensive and safety-critical components represents a substantial technical and reputational challenge.

A Software Update Failed to Solve the Battery Problem

Mercedes-Benz initially attempted to address the battery defect through a software update. The approach was intended to mitigate the risk without requiring the immediate replacement of the entire battery pack.

However, the software-based solution proved insufficient, according to the information surrounding the recall. Approximately a year later, the manufacturer acknowledged that replacing the complete battery unit was necessary to resolve the problem.

The development significantly increases the complexity of the campaign. Replacing a high-voltage battery requires specialised equipment, trained technicians, appropriate workshop facilities and a reliable supply of replacement components.

Unlike a conventional software recall, which can sometimes be completed remotely or during a relatively short workshop visit, a battery replacement involves substantial logistical and technical work.

The case also demonstrates the limitations of software-based remedies when the underlying problem involves a physical component whose failure could compromise vehicle safety.

German Court Ruling Put Pressure on Mercedes-Benz

The replacement campaign has another important dimension: its legal background.

Mercedes-Benz was compelled to act after losing an initial lawsuit brought by a customer whose EQA suffered a battery defect. The court initially ordered the manufacturer to refund the vehicle’s full purchase price, which exceeded €51,000.

Although Mercedes-Benz could have appealed the decision, the company’s legal team reportedly assessed the prospects of a successful appeal as limited.

Consequently, the battery replacement initiative should not be viewed simply as a voluntary customer-care measure. The legal proceedings played a central role in pushing the manufacturer toward a more comprehensive solution.

The case illustrates how consumer litigation can influence the handling of automotive defects, particularly when an initial technical remedy fails to eliminate a potential safety risk.

For owners, the distinction matters. A manufacturer announcing a corrective campaign and a manufacturer being pressured into action by legal proceedings may present two very different pictures of how a defect is being addressed.

Battery Replacements Could Continue Until 2028

Even with a more definitive technical solution identified, affected owners may face a lengthy wait.

According to Dr. Stoll & Sauer, replacement work is not expected to begin before the fourth quarter of 2026. The campaign could continue until 2028, with delays attributed to a shortage of spare parts and uncertainty surrounding the manufacturer of the replacement batteries.

This creates a difficult situation for owners of affected EQA and EQB models. A recall may provide a path toward a permanent repair, but it does not necessarily mean that the repair will be available immediately.

The precise implications for individual vehicles will depend on Mercedes-Benz’s instructions, the applicable recall measures and any restrictions imposed on their use.

Owners should therefore contact an authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer, confirm whether their vehicle is affected and obtain written guidance on whether the car can continue to be driven safely while awaiting a replacement battery.

If Mercedes-Benz or the relevant authorities issue restrictions on vehicle use or charging, those instructions should be followed. Drivers should not assume that a software update or the absence of visible symptoms means the underlying risk has disappeared.

Why Electric Car Battery Recalls Are So Complicated

High-voltage batteries are among the most expensive components in a modern electric vehicle. They also contain numerous interconnected cells, monitoring systems, cooling components and electronic controls that must operate within carefully defined safety limits.

When a battery defect is identified, manufacturers must determine whether the problem can be addressed through software, a component-level repair or a complete battery replacement.

The appropriate solution depends on the nature of the defect. Software can adjust certain operating parameters and reduce specific risks, but it cannot physically eliminate every manufacturing fault or damaged component inside a battery pack.

A full replacement introduces another set of challenges. Automakers must secure compatible battery packs, coordinate suppliers, distribute parts across international markets and ensure that repair facilities can complete the work safely.

In a large recall, the availability of replacement batteries can become a bottleneck. Even when the technical solution has been established, production capacity and supply-chain constraints can delay repairs for months or longer.

The Mercedes-Benz case underlines an important distinction: identifying a battery safety problem is only the first step. Delivering a permanent remedy to every affected vehicle can be considerably more difficult.

Mercedes EQA and EQB Are Not the Only Electric Cars Facing Battery Issues

The problems affecting the EQA and EQB also form part of a broader industry challenge.

According to the law firm involved in the case, battery-related recalls affect vehicles from multiple manufacturers and are not limited to fully electric cars. Battery defects can also affect plug-in hybrids and other vehicles equipped with high-voltage battery systems.

This does not mean that all electric vehicles are unsafe or that battery failures are inevitable. Rather, it demonstrates that battery quality, manufacturing consistency, thermal management and effective defect detection are essential to the long-term reliability of electrified vehicles.

For manufacturers, the challenge is to identify potential problems early, communicate clearly with customers and provide effective corrective measures without unnecessary delays.

For consumers, the case is a reminder that purchasing a premium electric vehicle does not eliminate the possibility of costly technical defects or prolonged recall procedures.

What Should Mercedes EQA and EQB Owners Do?

Owners of a Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+ or EQB 250+ manufactured within the affected production period should take several practical steps.

  • Check the VIN: Contact an authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer to confirm whether the vehicle is included in recall SR/01226/25.
  • Request written instructions: Ask the dealer whether the vehicle can be driven and charged normally or whether specific restrictions apply.
  • Follow official safety guidance: Do not disregard instructions relating to charging, parking or vehicle use.
  • Ask about the replacement timeline: Request the latest information about parts availability, repair scheduling and any interim measures.
  • Keep all documentation: Retain recall notices, workshop reports, correspondence and records of any costs or restrictions associated with the defect.

The reported timeline extends into 2028, but individual repair dates may vary. Owners should rely on official guidance applicable to their vehicle rather than assuming that every affected car will receive a replacement battery at the same time.

The Real Cost of a Battery Defect Goes Beyond the Repair Bill

The Mercedes-Benz battery recall illustrates a fundamental weakness in the ownership experience when a serious automotive defect cannot be resolved quickly.

A high-voltage battery is expensive to manufacture and replace, but the financial implications do not end with the cost of the component. Owners may also face uncertainty over vehicle availability, charging restrictions, inconvenience and potential resale concerns.

When a permanent repair takes months or years to become available, the burden extends beyond the manufacturer and its suppliers. Customers are left waiting for a solution to a problem they did not create.

For Mercedes-Benz, the priority is now to ensure that replacement batteries become available, affected vehicles receive a permanent remedy and customers receive clear, timely information.

For the wider electric vehicle industry, the lesson is equally important: long-term success depends not only on range, charging speed and performance, but also on battery safety, dependable aftersales support and the ability to resolve defects promptly.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz Q3 2026 Sales: Electric Vehicle Deliveries Surge 61% as New GLC Leads Growth

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Mercedes-Benz achieved record quarterly electric vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2026, with battery-electric vehicle (BEV) deliveries rising 61% year over year to 68,400 units. The electric GLC emerged as a major growth driver, while the new CLA, GLB and GLA helped strengthen demand across the brand’s expanding electric vehicle lineup. However, challenging market conditions in China continued to weigh on overall sales, highlighting the contrasting performance of Mercedes-Benz across its key global markets.

Mercedes-Benz Group sold 491,700 cars and vans worldwide during the third quarter of 2026. Although combined battery-electric vehicle sales across the Cars and Vans divisions increased by 52%, total Group sales declined 6% compared with the same period in 2025. Outside China, the company recorded a 2% increase, demonstrating that its latest product launches are gaining traction in several important markets.

Mercedes-Benz Electric Car Sales Reach a New Quarterly Record

Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 407,200 vehicles globally in the third quarter of 2026, representing an 8% decline compared with the previous year. The main factor behind the decrease was the difficult competitive environment in China, where demand for premium passenger vehicles remained under pressure.

Despite the decline in total deliveries, the company achieved a significant milestone in its electrification strategy. Mercedes-Benz Cars sold 68,400 fully electric vehicles during the quarter, its highest quarterly BEV volume to date. Sales increased 61% year over year and 29% compared with the second quarter of 2026.

The results pushed the battery-electric vehicle share of global Mercedes-Benz Cars sales to a record 16.8%, an increase of 7.2 percentage points from the third quarter of 2025. When plug-in hybrids are included, electrified vehicles accounted for 25% of total Mercedes-Benz Cars deliveries.

Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG responsible for Sales and Customer Experience, highlighted the importance of the new electric models.

He noted that the electric GLC was a key contributor to the record, with sales more than tripling compared with the second quarter. Geisen also confirmed that the electric GLC, CLA, GLB and GLA were sold out in Europe for the remainder of 2026, with customer order books extending into 2027.

The strong demand suggests that Mercedes-Benz is beginning to translate its expanded electric vehicle portfolio into higher sales volumes, even as competition in the global premium segment intensifies.

Electric Mercedes-Benz GLC Leads the Charge

The new electric Mercedes-Benz GLC played a central role in the company’s third-quarter performance. Positioned as an important model in the premium midsize SUV segment, the electric GLC is helping Mercedes-Benz attract customers looking for a combination of luxury, practicality and zero-emission driving.

Its contribution was particularly significant as the company continued to expand the model’s availability across international markets.

The electric CLA also recorded positive momentum. Sales of the electric sedan and its variants increased 24% compared with the second quarter as the model entered additional markets, including the United States and Japan.

Meanwhile, the new electric GLB made a successful market debut, building on the reputation of its predecessor. The model strengthens Mercedes-Benz’s electric offering for customers seeking a more versatile vehicle with SUV styling and additional practicality.

The upcoming expansion of the new GLA range is expected to provide another boost to the company’s entry-level portfolio. Series production of the latest GLA began at the Rastatt plant in Germany in September, with initial customer orders reportedly showing encouraging signs.

To keep pace with demand, Mercedes-Benz has increased production activity at its Bremen and Rastatt facilities in Germany and its Kecskemét plant in Hungary. All three locations are operating on three-shift schedules.

Europe Becomes a Major Growth Engine for Mercedes-Benz

Europe was one of the strongest-performing regions for Mercedes-Benz Cars during the third quarter of 2026. Deliveries increased 5% year over year to 168,700 vehicles, supported by growth across several major markets.

Germany recorded a 13% increase in sales, while the United Kingdom posted a 7% gain. Both countries continued to deliver sales growth throughout the first three quarters of 2026.

The results underline the importance of Mercedes-Benz’s European customer base as the company transitions toward a more electrified product lineup.

Fully electric models performed particularly well in the region. Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved record quarterly BEV sales in Europe, with deliveries increasing 78% year over year and 24% compared with the second quarter. Nearly one in every three Mercedes-Benz cars sold in Europe during the quarter was fully electric.

The company also ranked first in Germany’s battery-electric fleet market in August, indicating that its electric vehicles are attracting substantial interest from business and fleet customers as well as private buyers.

Demand for the new electric GLC, CLA, GLB and GLA has been strong enough to exhaust available European allocations for the remainder of the year. With order books extending well into 2027, the challenge for Mercedes-Benz will be to maintain production levels that match customer demand.

North America Delivers Strong Results as New SUVs Arrive

North America also contributed positively to Mercedes-Benz’s third-quarter performance.

Mercedes-Benz Cars sales in the region increased 4% to 83,200 vehicles during the quarter. The broader trend was even stronger, with deliveries across North America rising 11% during the first nine months of 2026.

The United States remained an important contributor. U.S. sales increased 6% in the third quarter and 12% during the first nine months of the year, demonstrating continued demand for the brand’s premium vehicles.

In September, Mercedes-Benz further strengthened its American SUV lineup with the arrival of the new GLE, GLE Coupé and GLS at dealerships.

These models are important to the company’s sales strategy, particularly as SUVs continue to account for the majority of Mercedes-Benz Cars deliveries. Their arrival also helps refresh the brand’s offering in one of its most valuable markets.

The combination of new combustion-engine models, electrified powertrains and fully electric vehicles gives Mercedes-Benz a broad range of products with which to address changing customer preferences in North America.

China Remains the Biggest Challenge for Mercedes-Benz

While Europe and North America delivered encouraging results, China continued to be the main source of pressure on Mercedes-Benz’s global sales.

Mercedes-Benz Cars deliveries across Asia totalled 132,300 vehicles in the third quarter, a decline of 25% compared with the same period in 2025. The downturn was primarily driven by China, where sales fell 31% amid challenging passenger-car market conditions and intense competition in the premium segment.

The Chinese automotive market has become increasingly competitive, with domestic manufacturers expanding their offerings in both conventional and electric vehicles. This environment is placing pressure on established international luxury brands to respond with new products, technology and pricing strategies.

Despite the decline, the GLC and E-Class remained relatively resilient. Together, the two model lines accounted for almost two-thirds of Mercedes-Benz Cars sales in China during the quarter.

The company is also working to strengthen its position through locally tailored products. The new electric GLC L, launched in July, is gradually increasing its sales volume and has received a positive customer response. In mid-September, Mercedes-Benz introduced the new locally produced GLE L SUV, further expanding its China-specific portfolio.

These models will be important to the brand’s efforts to stabilise its performance in the world’s largest automotive market. However, the third-quarter figures demonstrate that growth in Europe and North America is not yet sufficient to fully offset the impact of the Chinese market.

SUVs Account for More Than Half of Mercedes-Benz Sales

SUVs remained the backbone of the Mercedes-Benz Cars lineup during the first nine months of 2026, accounting for 56% of total deliveries. The GLC was the leading contributor within the SUV portfolio.

The company is continuing to renew its SUV range across the Entry, Core and Top-End segments, with additional updates planned into 2027.

This strategy reflects the continuing popularity of SUVs among premium-car buyers, as well as the importance of offering different sizes, powertrains and equipment levels across global markets.

The electric GLC is particularly significant because it combines the popularity of the established GLC nameplate with Mercedes-Benz’s expanding battery-electric technology. Its strong performance in the third quarter suggests that electrification can play an increasingly important role in the company’s most commercially significant vehicle categories.

The broader SUV renewal programme is also expected to strengthen the company’s competitive position as customers increasingly compare traditional premium brands with newer electric vehicle manufacturers.

Mercedes-Benz Top-End Models Face a Challenging Transition

Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 53,900 Top-End vehicles during the third quarter, accounting for 13.2% of total car sales. For the first nine months of 2026, Top-End models represented approximately 14% of deliveries.

The segment continued to face pressure from weaker conditions in China and ongoing model changeovers. Nevertheless, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is attracting strong customer interest as production and market availability increase.

Outside China, S-Class sales more than doubled compared with the second quarter of 2026, indicating improving momentum as the latest model reaches more customers.

The Top-End category remains strategically important to Mercedes-Benz because its flagship vehicles help define the brand’s luxury positioning. Maintaining demand in this segment is therefore important not only for sales volumes but also for the company’s broader premium image.

The third-quarter figures nevertheless highlight the difficulty of sustaining growth at the top of the luxury market while China remains under pressure.

Core Segment Benefits From the Electric GLC and Updated C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz Core segment recorded 234,200 sales in the third quarter of 2026, down 6% year over year. Lower deliveries in China were the primary reason for the decline.

Outside China, however, Core segment sales increased 5%, supported by double-digit growth in Europe.

The electric GLC was the main growth driver within the segment and received an additional accolade in September when it was named German Premium Car of the Year 2027.

Mercedes-Benz also expanded the C-Class lineup during the quarter. The updated C-Class Saloon and Estate, equipped with electrified high-tech combustion engines, opened for orders in August. The company described the changes as the most comprehensive technical upgrade in the model’s history.

In September, the electric Mercedes-Benz C 300 4MATIC became available to order in Europe, broadening the range of electrified C-Class options.

The all-new electric C-Class has also received positive customer feedback as showroom availability improves. Its arrival is important for Mercedes-Benz because the C-Class remains one of the brand’s established core nameplates and provides another route into the premium electric-car market.

The combination of updated combustion-engine models and fully electric alternatives allows Mercedes-Benz to serve customers with different requirements while continuing its transition toward electrification.

Entry Segment Gains Momentum With the New CLA and GLA

The Entry segment delivered 119,200 vehicles in the third quarter, a 4% decrease compared with the same period last year. However, sales increased 8% compared with the second quarter, supported by the expansion of the new CLA into additional markets.

The upcoming contribution of the new GLA is expected to strengthen the segment further. Series production began at the Rastatt plant in September, and early customer orders have been encouraging.

The Entry segment is important for attracting younger customers and buyers seeking access to the Mercedes-Benz brand at a lower price point than its larger luxury models.

With the CLA and GLA ranges expanding, Mercedes-Benz is positioning its entry-level portfolio to play a greater role in the company’s electrification strategy. The availability of fully electric variants also gives the brand more opportunities to compete in the increasingly crowded premium compact-car segment.

Mercedes-Benz Expands Its Global Brand Experience

Alongside its product launches, Mercedes-Benz is investing in new ways to connect with customers.

Since April 2026, the company has opened 15 Mercedes-Benz Studios in major urban centres worldwide, with three additional locations planned in the coming months.

More than 1.5 million visitors have experienced the brand through these locations. The studios have also hosted three world premieres and several market launches, including events for the C-Class, GLS and GLA.

These spaces give Mercedes-Benz an additional way to showcase its vehicles, technology and design to customers beyond traditional dealerships. They also provide a platform for introducing new models in prominent urban locations, where brands increasingly compete for consumer attention.

As the company expands its electric vehicle portfolio, such customer-facing initiatives may help communicate the differences between its new products and reinforce its luxury positioning.

What Mercedes-Benz’s Q3 2026 Results Mean for the Brand

Mercedes-Benz’s third-quarter performance reveals a company experiencing two contrasting trends. Its electric vehicle programme is gaining momentum, with record BEV deliveries and strong demand for the latest models in Europe. At the same time, declining sales in China continue to weigh on total global deliveries.

The 61% annual increase in Mercedes-Benz Cars BEV sales to 68,400 vehicles represents a significant step forward for the company’s electrification strategy. The electric GLC has emerged as a particularly important growth driver, while the CLA, GLB and GLA are expanding the brand’s reach across several segments.

Europe remains a key source of strength, supported by record electric-car sales and broad-based regional growth. North America is also performing well, with the arrival of updated GLE, GLE Coupé and GLS models strengthening the SUV portfolio.

China, however, remains the critical market to watch. The 31% decline in Mercedes-Benz Cars sales there illustrates the pressure facing established premium manufacturers as competition intensifies.

Looking ahead, Mercedes-Benz will need to convert strong demand for its new electric vehicles into sustained deliveries while continuing to renew its combustion-engine and electrified SUV ranges. The company’s ability to manage production capacity, strengthen its position in China and maintain momentum in Europe and North America will help determine whether its record electric vehicle performance can translate into broader sales growth.

For now, the third quarter of 2026 provides encouraging evidence that Mercedes-Benz’s new electric models are finding customers, even as the global luxury-car market remains challenging.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz EQS Gets Steer-by-Wire Technology, Cutting Steering Wheel Input to Just 170 Degrees

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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