This Is The World's First Folding Steering Wheel – It Retracts When The Car Is In Autonomous Mode

This Is The World’s First Folding Steering Wheel – It Retracts When The Car Is In Autonomous Mode

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 07/01/2026 at 23:31

Updated on 07/01/2026 at 23:36

Volante dobrável retrátil estreia em veículo autônomo Nível 4, integra segurança adaptativa e chega à produção em 2026.

Uma pessoa reagiu a isso.

Developed by Autoliv in partnership with Tensor, the first foldable steering wheel in the world was designed for Level 4 autonomous vehicles, retracts completely in automatic mode, frees up internal cabin space, and will be launched on the Tensor Robocar, with mass production expected in the second semester of 2026

Autoliv and Tensor have jointly developed the first foldable steering wheel in the world, integrated into a Level 4 personal autonomous vehicle, with a launch expected in the second semester of 2026, promising to free up internal space without compromising safety systems.

The system will be launched on the Tensor Robocar, an autonomous vehicle ready for mass production, capable of operating from Level 0 to Level 4. The project responds to structural changes in vehicle interiors as automation reduces the need for constant human controls.

Retractable Steering Wheel with Two Modes of Operation

The foldable steering wheel was designed to operate in two distinct modes depending on the vehicle’s driving state. During manual driving, it functions like a conventional steering wheel, allowing full control by the driver.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

The Technical Agenda and the Fair in the City of Macaé Should Boost Discussions on Investments, Energy Transition, and Development of the Oil, Gas, and Energy Chain in the National...

Paulo Nogueira

When the vehicle enters Level 4 autonomous operation, the steering wheel retracts completely. In this mode, the system takes on all driving tasks under defined conditions, eliminating the need for direct human interaction.

According to the companies, this approach removes limitations imposed by traditional steering systems in autonomous scenarios. Steering wheels, pedals, and fixed panels begin to restrict comfort and flexibility when the car drives itself.

Transformation of the Internal Cabin Space

With the steering wheel fully retracted, the driver’s area is freed up, allowing the front cabin to transform into a more open space. Tensor claims this enables new seating positions and better legroom.

The user experience, according to the company, becomes closer to a lounge when manual control is not necessary. The internal layout is reorganized to prioritize comfort and freedom of movement during autonomous driving.

This redesign reflects a broader shift in automotive interiors as vehicles advance to higher levels of automation and physical components become less central at all moments of travel.

Adaptive Safety Systems by Driving Mode

The vehicle’s safety systems automatically adapt according to the active mode. When the steering wheel is retracted, a passenger airbag integrated directly into the dashboard is activated.

Upon returning to manual driving, the airbag housed in the steering wheel is used again. Autoliv states that both configurations provide the same level of protection to occupants despite structural differences.

For the company, automotive safety needs to move away from a one-size-fits-all philosophy. Systems must dynamically respond to changes in vehicle states and user behavior, ensuring equivalent protection across all scenarios.

Integration with the Autonomous System of the Tensor Robocar

The foldable steering wheel is directly integrated into the autonomous driving system of the Tensor Robocar. The transition between manual and autonomous modes occurs in a coordinated manner with the other vehicle systems.

Fabien Dumont, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Autoliv, stated that the solution seeks to align safety and comfort with the real needs of the driver, making the system intelligent and adaptive.

According to him, the collaboration with Tensor resulted in a driving solution that adjusts to the vehicle’s mode, enhancing protection without limiting user experience, even with the physical absence of the steering wheel.

Project Focused on Mass Production

Tensor emphasizes that the foldable steering wheel is not limited to a concept car. The company plans to implement the system in a production vehicle intended for private ownership, not just in pilot fleets or experimental programs.

Jay Xiao, CEO of Tensor, stated that fully autonomous driving offers a new experience, but manual driving is still desired in certain scenarios, requiring a dual-mode solution.

According to him, foldable driving systems existed only in concepts, but are now being brought to mass production vehicles for daily use, combining advanced autonomy and human control when necessary.

Autonomy from L0 to L4 and Expected Markets

The Tensor Robocar will support autonomy levels from L0 to L4, allowing switching between full manual control and autonomous operation depending on the situation. The vehicle will be offered in the markets of the United States, European Union, and the Middle East.

Autoliv claims that the collaboration illustrates the expanding role of safety suppliers, who now directly influence the design of interiors for an autonomous future, where hardware needs to adapt with the same fluidity as the software that controls the vehicle.

0 Comentários

Mais recente

Mais antigos Mais votado

Feedbacks

Visualizar todos comentários

This Is The World’s First Folding Steering Wheel – It Retracts When The Car Is In Autonomous Mode

Retractable Steering Wheel with Two Modes of Operation

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

Transformation of the Internal Cabin Space

Adaptive Safety Systems by Driving Mode

Integration with the Autonomous System of the Tensor Robocar

Project Focused on Mass Production

Autonomy from L0 to L4 and Expected Markets

At just 14 years old, a boy creates a system without energy, using steel pipes buried in the ground, that irrigates seedlings with moisture from the air, to combat the water scarcity threatening reforestation in northern China.

Where there was only sand and wind at 40 degrees, China built a megacity of 500,000 inhabitants with farms, wineries, and universities in the middle of the desert using melted glacier water from hundreds of kilometers away.

At over 8,800 meters above sea level, the summit of Mount Everest is made up of rocks that originated at the bottom of an ocean about 500 million years ago and were pushed to the highest point on Earth by the collision of tectonic plates.

A couple builds a system to bring water from the spring to their land, climbs a hill with materials on their backs, and creates a simple, cheap, and sustainable solution to ensure their own water supply.

The end of total solar eclipses has a deadline: the Moon is moving away from the Earth at about 3.8 cm per year, and in approximately 600 million years, it will no longer completely cover the Sun, ending one of the rarest coincidences in the Solar System.

With 40% of all the gold on the planet buried in a single geological basin that is 2.7 billion years old in South Africa, the Witwatersrand still hides R$ 3 trillion in unreachable reserves.

In the depths of the African forest, these rare and terrifying native species dominate rivers, swamps, and treetops with venom, brute strength, lethal teeth, and behaviors that seem impossible in the heart of the wild.

A Brazilian millionaire couple restores a farm over 150 years old in the interior of São Paulo and transforms the historic property with Portuguese tiles, antique furniture, and new spaces into a refuge that blends tradition, comfort, and sophistication.

Submerged city in a lake in Minas reveals intact streets, preserved vehicles, and houses after more than 60 years, impressing divers.

Yellowstone has started to rise again in an area of the caldera, and the movement rekindles fears surrounding the U.S. supervolcano, as scientists monitor the deformation and try to understand what is happening underground.

Woman arrested after receiving $1.2 million due to banking error and not returning the amount.

Beneath Mexico City lies an entire buried Aztec capital, and it all began when workers discovered a 3.25-meter stone disk featuring a dismembered goddess, revealing temples, skulls, and palaces beneath 22 million people.

This Is The World’s First Folding Steering Wheel – It Retracts When The Car Is In Autonomous Mode

Retractable Steering Wheel with Two Modes of Operation

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

Transformation of the Internal Cabin Space

Adaptive Safety Systems by Driving Mode

Integration with the Autonomous System of the Tensor Robocar

Project Focused on Mass Production

Autonomy from L0 to L4 and Expected Markets

At just 14 years old, a boy creates a system without energy, using steel pipes buried in the ground, that irrigates seedlings with moisture from the air, to combat the water scarcity threatening reforestation in northern China.

Where there was only sand and wind at 40 degrees, China built a megacity of 500,000 inhabitants with farms, wineries, and universities in the middle of the desert using melted glacier water from hundreds of kilometers away.

At over 8,800 meters above sea level, the summit of Mount Everest is made up of rocks that originated at the bottom of an ocean about 500 million years ago and were pushed to the highest point on Earth by the collision of tectonic plates.

A couple builds a system to bring water from the spring to their land, climbs a hill with materials on their backs, and creates a simple, cheap, and sustainable solution to ensure their own water supply.

The end of total solar eclipses has a deadline: the Moon is moving away from the Earth at about 3.8 cm per year, and in approximately 600 million years, it will no longer completely cover the Sun, ending one of the rarest coincidences in the Solar System.

With 40% of all the gold on the planet buried in a single geological basin that is 2.7 billion years old in South Africa, the Witwatersrand still hides R$ 3 trillion in unreachable reserves.

In the depths of the African forest, these rare and terrifying native species dominate rivers, swamps, and treetops with venom, brute strength, lethal teeth, and behaviors that seem impossible in the heart of the wild.

With a 1.0 engine producing 75 hp and costing less than R$ 70,000, Fiat’s car returns to the podium as the cheapest in the country; a temporary promotion for the 2026 Like version reduces the price of the Fiat Mobi.

With a mild hybrid system of 48 V, 176 hp and a price of R$ 175,990 in the Sahara version, the new Jeep Renegade changes mostly on the inside, improves slightly in fuel consumption, and remains almost the same car.

With a 293.5 cm³ engine and a range of up to 400 km with a 14.1-liter tank, the Honda CB 300F Twister 2026 has up to 24.7 hp, an initial price of R$ 25,150, and already exceeds R$ 29,000 in the Fipe Table.

With a 1.3 engine, nearly 700 km of range, and Turbo 200, the Fiat model surpasses Polo, Tera HB20, and Onix, becoming the best-selling car in March; see the numbers for the Fiat Strada and others.

The Honda Fit has been discontinued for years, but the 2018 model is worth more today in the Fipe table than it cost brand new, proving that this used car, valued with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine and Magic Seat, only increases in price.

A Brazilian millionaire couple restores a farm over 150 years old in the interior of São Paulo and transforms the historic property with Portuguese tiles, antique furniture, and new spaces into a refuge that blends tradition, comfort, and sophistication.

Submerged city in a lake in Minas reveals intact streets, preserved vehicles, and houses after more than 60 years, impressing divers.

Yellowstone has started to rise again in an area of the caldera, and the movement rekindles fears surrounding the U.S. supervolcano, as scientists monitor the deformation and try to understand what is happening underground.

Woman arrested after receiving $1.2 million due to banking error and not returning the amount.

Beneath Mexico City lies an entire buried Aztec capital, and it all began when workers discovered a 3.25-meter stone disk featuring a dismembered goddess, revealing temples, skulls, and palaces beneath 22 million people.