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With all the hype surrounding selfdriving cars these days, steering wheels seem a bit archaic. Some experts claim the humble device will soon find itself alongside bench seats, carburetors, chrome bumpers, hubcaps and other relics of the past.
However, some of the most dynamic product development activity in the auto industry today involves steering wheels. That means the traditional driver-car interface could still be around for decades-just in some slightly different configurations.
"The steering wheel in some shape or form will prevail and will not disappear anytime soon," says Christian Mueller, manager of European component forecasts and analysis at IHS Automotive. "During the transition to full autonomy, vehicles will feature steering wheels to enable manual control and ensure safety. However, they may be either retractable or inflatable devices that fold into the dashboard when not in use."
One leading supplier, ZF TRW, envisions a retractable steering wheel that can significantly...