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Mercedes-Benz Whensday: The Steering Wheel

The year is 1894. You just bought a brand new motor car and have been the talk of the town for the last couple of months. Life is good. You’re walking out of the apothecary, excited to fire up your motor carriage in front of the crowd huddled around your fancy car. But they aren’t huddled around your car. They are ogling someone else’s car. A newer car. A better car. You see, drivers have been having this problem even before the name Mercedes came to be. Except, in 1894, the technology that set some apart from others were things like the steering wheel or electric headlights.
Learn Where “Mercedes” and “E-Class” Came From

Invention Of The Steering Wheel

Unlike many other crucial vehicle patents, the steering wheel was not invented by Mercedes-Benz. It was actually introduced by a French military vehicle company in a race in 1894. Soon after that, the diagonal steering column was perfected in the Mercedes-Benz Simplex.

1903 Mercedes Simplex

Although any kind of motor car during this era was considered luxurious, the Mercedes Simplex was one of the first examples of a luxury car as we know it today. It had a spacious interior, a strong, reliable body and motor, and it was easy to steer, thanks to the steering wheel and the diagonal steering column.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Today, the E-Class features one of the most advanced steering wheels in the industry. It is the first steering wheel in history to feature a touch-screen pad to control infotainment features and instrument cluster settings. It can even steer itself on the highway! Of course, this technology has nothing to do with the steering wheel itself, but it is the beginning of the end of the steering wheel. Eventually, automobiles will lose the steering wheel altogether or switch to something more compact, such as a video game controller. If you have any questions about the steering wheel or Mercedes-Benz, leave a comment below!