Mercedes adds steer-by-wire — and a dang steering yoke — to the EQS

Steer-by-wire, in which a car can be steered electronically rather than through a physical connection between the steering wheel and steering rack, is coming to Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker says it will use the steering technology in its forthcoming refreshed EQS sedan, marking its first foray into the world of steer-by-wire.

Steer-by-wire systems replace traditional mechanical steering mechanisms that include racks and pinions with electronically controlled servos. Commonly used in airplanes, the electronic system takes inputs from the driver and relays them to electronic actuators that then control the direction of the wheels on the car.

Mercedes says it isn’t abandoning electromechanical steering completely; it plans on shipping versions of the EQS with traditional steering technology in addition to models with steer-by-wire. The automaker put over a million test kilometers (over 621,000 miles) on the odometer with the new system before approving it for production. It also uses a redundant system architecture in addition to high-precision sensors and powerful control units to ensure it meets the brand’s safety metrics.

Mercedes says the new yoke instantly transforms the interior of the EQS. The company argues that with a flatter steering wheel, drivers will have an unfettered view of the instrument cluster, as well as an easier time getting into and out of the vehicle. But you can’t discount the existence of something to grab onto while taking a turn at high speeds, for example. Also, a steering wheel can offer padding to ease pressure during long drives.

The early reactions to the new EQS are pretty positive. The Drive praised it as a “steering yoke that actually works,” while InsideEVs called the steer-by-wire system “the best one out there” — but held off on individually praising the yoke.