Expert says prepare for no steering wheel in future cars

Audi’s concept luxury sedan, the grandsphere, has a cabin that turns into a lounge. Photo: Audi

A former Volkswagen executive predicts steering wheels will be optional by mid-decade, just days after Audi revealed its fully-autonomous concept car.

Former VW and Apple executive Johann Jungwirth made the bold statement at a conference focused on smart cars hosted by Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche.

Jungwirth is now a vice president at Intel-owned Mobileye, and he expects driverless taxis to be on the road in Germany by next year.

Mobileye, which is augmenting its camera-based driver-assist systems with help from lidar maker Luminar, has permits to test Level 4 technology in Germany, which is getting closer to allowing the commercialisation of driverless vehicle technology.

He expects robotaxi fleets to get Level 4 capability, which means the cars can take over driving, between 2022 and 2025, according to Automobilwoche.

"At that point, a person can decide whether to purchase a car with or without a steering wheel," said Jungwirth.

Brands such as Audi, are also showing concepts that are moving towards fully autonomous driving. 

Audi has just revealed its concept vehicle, the grandsphere, that has the ability to turn into a lounge, at which time the steering wheel gets stowed and the driver can recline by up to 60 degrees.