Autonomous vehicles may eventually lose the steering wheel

As self-driving cars evolve, so will the steering wheel, according to a posting on the Ancira Kia website.

Today's steering wheels offer smart features that adjust to the needs of the driver or offer features that help the driver stay free of distractions when selecting music or receiving a text message, but once smart cars become mainstream, the steering wheel may become unnecessary, the posting said. 

Completely autonomous cars will be able to handle and monitor all aspects of vehicle's movement, requiring no human control, even for braking or accelerating.

The future of the steering wheel is a controversial topic, according to the posting. Many drivers today have indicated they would not feel comfortable in a vehicle without a steering wheel because of doubts about autonomous capabilities. On the other side of the coin, a steering wheel could cause a driver that was previously not paying attention to grab the wheel and over correct, resulting in a dangerous situation.

Kia launched its autonomous sub-brand, DRIVE WiSE, last year and plans to offer partially autonomous cars within three years and fully autonomous vehicles within 13 years, the posting said. Kia showed off its driverless technology by offering drivers a chance to test the driverless Kia Cadenza, or K7, at the 2017 Seoul Motor Show.