Mercedes Unveils Radical Yoke Steering Wheel Design

Apr 25, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

A second iteration of the yoke wheel

When Tesla put crazy yoke steering wheels in its Model S and X, many wondered what the hell they were doing. Aside from complaints about the steering wheel cover peeling, it was a mixed bag of reactions from owners. Now, Mercedes wants in on the act by introducing its own steer-by-wire yoke steering wheel. Details of the new steering system were dropped yesterday directly from Mercedes. The goal isn’t to copy Tesla but to provide a new system for the brand’s electrified future. Is it a Tesla copy? By the looks of it, no, but the functionality is much the same by eliminating the circular shape of a traditional steering wheel while also bucking the traditional mechanical connection with the wheels. 

What’s the point of the yoke?

Mercedes wants to make life easier for drivers, and that’s the mentality behind the yoke design. It saves space by making the steering wheel smaller, aiding driver ingress and egress. The revised shape and reduced size improve visibility of the instrumentation because they save the driver from having to peer over or under the top portion of a traditionally round steering wheel. It also aids in the use of autonomous functionality and in-car entertainment like gaming and movies. 

The Mercedes-Benz version retains the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock hand positions, as well as center hub and four spokes, while employing two flattened yoke curves on top and a concave bottom portion. The result is an attractive and futuristic-looking steering wheel that provides virtually untrammeled visibility of the instrument cluster. It also increases knee room for taller drivers. 

What is steer-by-wire?

The yoke shape is secondary to the steer-by-wire system from Mercedes-Benz. The brand wants to improve the driving experience of vehicles that use this setup. Rather than a hydraulic metal shaft running from the steering wheel to the front suspension, a steer-by-wire system utilizes electronics to relay input to the car’s front tires. The steering wheel sensors detect the driver’s input, including angle and torque. The car’s ECU processes these signals and incorporates vehicle speed and road conditions. The ECU can make adjustments to the steering ratio accordingly and then send commands to the electric actuators, which turn the wheels. 

Feedback to the driver’s hands isn’t direct but simulated via haptic feedback, providing some semblance of control and feel, albeit artificially. The adjustments made by the ECU mean the steering wheel won’t need full rotation, and the steer-by-wire system provides enhanced maneuverability, tighter turning radii when paired with rear-wheel steering, and better suspension isolation from the steering for enhanced safety. 

Which car will get it first? 

Mercedes-Benz didn’t make any official announcement about which of its vehicles will get the new steering wheel and drive-by-wire system, but the press release showed photos of a heavily camouflaged EQS EV that’s in the process of being refreshed to be more visually appealing to premium brand customers. Given the point of the system, we wouldn’t be surprised that the EQS would be the first. The new EQS will debut sometime in 2026, and a new steering wheel and system might be a big draw for customers who steered clear of the first EQS. 

Final thoughts

The yoke is no joke. Mercedes-Benz could be headed in the right direction, especially for their new generation of EVs, where customers are typically early adopters of fresh technology. The new steering wheel presents a fresh way of thinking that not only looks visually stunning but could provide new levels of functionality to driving, tech, infotainment, and even autonomous driving capability. We like the design of the new yoke steering wheel, but we’ll have to experience it to provide a solid verdict.