BMW always surprises!
At CES 2022, BMW unveiled five new technologies in one go, including the memorable "color-changing paint", and recently, it applied for a new patent, which made people open their minds after watching it.
BMW submitted a new patent application drawing to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and from the annex, it can be seen that the patent applied for by BMW is a new style steering wheel with an angle grip element.
It is understood that there are only two handles on the steering wheel, and no matter which angle it rotates, its handle still points upwards.
When the driver is not using the steering wheel or when the vehicle is in autopilot, the two handles can fold inwards, taking up as little space as possible. In this case, the steering control can reportedly be retracted, although this is not mentioned in the current patent.
The foldable steering wheel, I have to say that BMW is indeed radical enough and creative enough, and Tesla has to be honored as a "big brother" when it sees it! Of course, at present, it is difficult to mass-produce the steering wheel, and BMW's patent application is more like "occupying a pit" in advance.
Interestingly, not long ago BMW applied for a patent for a new steering wheel, and this time it submitted a new patent, it seems that BMW and the "steering wheel" are completely on the bar.