British cars may soon have a “flat” steering wheel as Mercedes unveils new technology

Mercedes announced that it will begin introducing revolutionary line-by-line technology to its vehicles next year, fundamentally redesigning the car steering wheels that use it.

Line-by-line technology means there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front tire. Instead, the driver's input to the steering wheel is transmitted through a cable – helping to improve responsiveness and steering feel.

This technology makes daily driving easier because parking requires less steering effort to maneuver the vehicle when using smaller turns.

This advancement also gives the steering wheel a flatter design, which the designers say helps improve driver visibility and accessibility.

Markus Schafar, a member of the Mercedes-Benz Group Management Committee, also said manufacturers are using the technology for autonomous driving, which can even allow drivers to watch TV shows on the road.

“Line by line is another important step towards tomorrow’s liquidity and we are proud to launch such a system in 2026,” he said.

“This technology brings a unique customer experience far beyond solo steering. Combined with the third-level conditional automated driving at the SAE level, it will get a more immersive entertainment experience in the medium term.

“For example, a flat steering wheel can better understand the display when streaming your favorite shows.”

Mercedes Benz said it will start offering line-by-line technology on its production vehicles by 2026. However, it has not disclosed which model will be compatible with the technology at this stage.