no driver, no wheel: world's first retractable steering wheel turns vehicles autonomous

"Unveiled at CES 2026, the design responds to automated riding, especially Level 4 driving, where the vehicle can manage all driving tasks within certain conditions without human input. The retractable steering wheel is co-developed with Tensor's Robocar autonomous driving system. When the vehicle switches into Level 4 autonomous mode, the steering wheel retracts, clearing the driver's area. This creates more space in the cabin and allows the front seat area to function more like a living or working space rather than a traditional cockpit."

"When manual driving is required, the steering wheel folds back into place, restoring a familiar driving setup. The airbag system changes depending on whether the vehicle is in autonomous or manual mode. A passenger airbag integrated into the instrument panel is activated when the steering wheel is retracted, while when the steering wheel is in use, the airbag inside the wheel is enabled instead."

"The design of the retractable steering wheel shies away from fixed, one-size-fits-all vehicle interiors. Autoliv's Chief Technology Officer Fabien Dumont says that safety systems now need to adapt to different driving situations and user needs. Tensor CEO Jay Xiao adds that while full self-driving offers new experiences, many people still want the option to drive manually. The project is presented as a way to support both preferences in one vehicle."

Autoliv and Tensor developed a retractable steering wheel that fully disappears in Level 4 autonomous mode, clearing the driver's area and converting the front cabin into a living or working space. The wheel folds back into place when manual driving is required, restoring a conventional cockpit. The vehicle switches its airbag configuration with mode: a passenger airbag integrated into the instrument panel activates when the wheel is retracted, while the airbag inside the wheel activates when the wheel is deployed. Both configurations provide comparable protection. The folding mechanism clarifies when the vehicle is in full self-driving mode and supports both manual and autonomous use.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine