Automotive world mein kaafi cheezein time ke saath evolve hoti rahi hai, but steering wheel ka role starting se hi kaafi clear raha hai. Early days mein technically steering wheel tha bhi nahi (1886 ke Benz patent Motorwagen mein front axle ko guide karne ke liye lever use hota tha), or tab se leke ab tak ismein zyada changes bhi nahi aaye. But ab autonomous driving ke aane ke saath ye situation change hone wali hai.
Aur agar car chalana important hi nahi hai driving seat pe baitha banda kare, rather machine khud drive kare. then phir itna space lene wala steering wheel rakhne ki kya zarurat hai? Iska solution kaafi simple nikala gaya jab steering wheel use mein na ho, then wo fold ho jaaye or apne compartment ke inner mein neatly store ho jaaye.
A steering wheel that folds and stores itself
CES 2026 ke start par Las Vegas mein, Autoliv ne apna ek folding steering wheel showcase kiya, jo unhone Tensor or uske autonomous driving system ke saath jointly develop kiya hai. Jaise hi car 100% autonomous mode mein jaati hai (means level 4 driving, jahan human ko bilkul intervene nahi karna padta), steering wheel ka rim smartly fold ho jaata hai. Kaafi clever concept hai.
Apni normal position pe rehne ke instead, steering ka center wala part same jagah pe rehta hai, or uske around jo ring hoti hai wo thoda sa rotate ho jaati hai. Jab ye rim steering column ke saath ek hi line mein aa jaata hai, then it retract, matlab less space occupy karta hai. Isse autonomous car ke under passenger space zyada free ho jaata hai, jise aap during the drive jo mann ho wo karne ke liye use kar sakte ho, whereas car apne aap chalti rehti hai.
And what happens with the airbag? very simple
Yes, many of the people think ke "Steering wheel ka airbag phir kya hoga?" so scene simple hai, wo bhi adjust ho jaata hai. Jab steering wheel fold hota hai, tab dashboard mein installed airbag active ho jaata hai. Aur jab steering wheel normal position mein hota hai, tab usual steering wheel airbag work karta hai. Means safety ke department mein both cases mein protection level almost same hi rehta hai.
Video Courtesy: Autoliv
Ye solution hi Tensor ka main strong point hai, jiske through wo apne new robotaxi ko spotlight mein lana chahta hai. Basically ek fully autonomous car hogi jo US market mein (because company American hai or already 25 countries mein operate kar rahi hai) ke saath saath Europe or Middle East mein bhi offer ki jayegi. Haan, abhi tak unhone apne Robocar ke launch ya is innovation ki exact date announce nahi ki hai.
From concept car idea to production for autonomous vehicle
Ab car safety ke liye one size fits all approach work nahi karta. Humne think kiya ki safety ko kaise smart or adaptive banaya jaaye, ek aisa system bana ke jo driver ki needs ke according se adust ho. Tensor ke saath hamari partnership exactly yehi karti hai, ek aisa steering wheel solution jo car ke mode ke according adapt hota hai or comfort ke saath saath safety bhi improve karta hai, (Fabien Dumont Vice President, Autoliv).
Autonomous technology ek bilkul next level experience deti hai, but kaafi buyers ko aaj bhi manual driving bahut pasand hai. so humne dual mode introduce kiya hai jisme folding steering wheel hai, so that dono worlds ka best mil sake or customers khud decide jar saken. Ab tak folding steering wheels sirf concept cars mein hote the, but ab hum ise actual production cars tak le ja rahe hai, "Tensor ke CEO Jay Xiao ne kaha.
Image Courtesy: Motor.es
A response that could prevent chaos during power outages
Ye solution recent San Francisco blackout jaise situations ke liye perfect hota. US blackout ke time, Waymo ke robotaxi literally "crash" ho gaye, because wo traffic signals read hi nahi kar paa rahe the. Vehicles intersections ke between atak gayi, or koi kuch kar bhi nahi sakta tha, because unmein normal manual controls hi nahi hote.
Iske opposite, Tesla ke competitors apni services continue kar paaye. Waise Tesla ke self driving taxis or FSD both these modes mein user ki need hone par car ka control le sakta hai, jo ki Volkswagen jaise brands ke development mein already dekhne ko mil raha hai. Autoliv or Tensor ka ye solution human control allow karega, so that Waymo ke self driving cars jaise chaotic situations avoid ji ja sakein.