Cybertruck Wins Best Tech Award by MotorTrend; Tech Coming to Other Teslas
The Cybertruck has been named MotorTrend’s 2025 Best Tech Winner for chassis technology—but surprisingly, not for its stainless steel exterior. Instead, the award recognizes its Steer-by-Wire system.
Steer-by-Wire is a technology that many automakers have explored for years, but Tesla was the first to bring it to mass production. Now, tens of thousands of Cybertrucks across North America are driving with this cutting-edge innovation.
As one reviewer put it, “Steer-by-Wire feels as natural as riding a bicycle.”
What is Steer-by-Wire?
Most modern cars use a rack-and-pinion steering system, which creates a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. To make steering easier, most vehicles incorporate hydraulic or electric power assist, reducing the effort needed to turn the wheels.
The steering ratio determines how many turns of the steering wheel are needed to move the front wheels from lock to lock. In most cars, this requires 3 to 3.5 full turns, translating to a ratio between 12:1 and 20:1.
Some high-performance sports cars also feature adaptive variable-ratio steering, which adjusts based on speed. At higher speeds, the ratio becomes less aggressive, allowing for added precision and control.
How it Works
The Cybertruck uses a fully electronic Steer-by-Wire system, eliminating any mechanical connection between the steering yoke and the wheels. Instead, the yoke sends inputs to a computer, which then controls independent electric motors dedicated to steering the front and rear wheels.
This redundancy ensures that even if one steering motor fails, the vehicle remains steerable through the other. Tesla also built in a backup power system—one motor runs on 48V low-voltage power, while the truck’s high-voltage battery powers the other.
Cybertruck Steer-By-Wire wins @MotorTrend Best Tech award – thank you!
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) February 25, 2025
Steer by Wire replaces traditional mechanical steering with electronic controls, letting you turn the wheels with less effort
This makes Cybertruck feel ultra nimble and – in combination with 4-wheel… pic.twitter.com/7MfHlnH1Tm
The steering inputs are triple-redundant, with two primary sensors monitoring wheel angles and a third acting as a tie-breaker. If the two primary sensors detect conflicting data, the tie-breaker determines the correct reading, and the system alerts the driver to pull over safely if needed. Tesla’s engineering played a key role in the Cybertruck earning a 5-star safety rating.
Beyond safety, the system also features a variable steering ratio. At low speeds, such as in parking lots, the ratio is around 5:1, making tight maneuvers easier. At higher speeds, it adjusts to around 12:1 for greater stability. Unlike traditional steering wheels, the Cybertruck’s yoke maxes out at 340 degrees, removing the need for hand-over-hand turning.
The system is surprisingly intuitive. According to MotorTrend, it only took them three turns to get comfortable with how the Cybertruck steers, describing it as feeling almost natural.
Because of how the steering is designed, there’s rarely a need to remove your hand from the yoke—unless you’re using FSD. Whether navigating a tight parking lot, off-roading, or cruising on the highway, maneuvering a full-size truck has never been this effortless.
On by default—super useful when traversing narrow jobsites, parking lots & more pic.twitter.com/pQHecxfyQJ
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) November 25, 2024
Rear-Wheel Steering
With the Cybertruck’s ability to turn its rear wheels, driving it feels almost effortless. Even if you’re not a fan of its design, we highly recommend visiting a Tesla showroom and taking one for a spin—you won’t regret it. The Cybertruck delivers one of the most enjoyable driving experiences, something you’d never expect from its bulky stainless steel exterior.
At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels, greatly reducing the turning radius for tighter maneuvers. At higher speeds, they turn in the same direction as the front wheels, allowing for smooth, stable lane changes without requiring dramatic steering adjustments. This makes highway driving feel remarkably fluid and controlled.
At low speeds, rear wheels rotate opposite to the front wheels—enabling tighter turns pic.twitter.com/Dv5yvjRw8L
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) November 25, 2024
Steer-by-Wire Coming to More Models
Tesla has already confirmed that future vehicles will adopt features pioneered by the Cybertruck, with Steer-by-Wire being one of them. Since this technology requires a 48V low-voltage architecture, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, mentioned on the Ride the Lightning podcast that it will be introduced in future models. Moravy also mentioned that the Model S and Model X will be updated later this year, potentially being the first models to take advantage of this.
The main challenge lies in transitioning to a 48V supply chain. Eventually, all Tesla vehicles will operate on 48V, likely incorporating Steer-by-Wire as well. This change should result in simplified parts, easier repairs, and improved handling.
As MotorTrend put it, when Cybertruck engineers replaced the traditional intermediate shaft with a ribbon cable, they didn’t just redefine how to steer a truck—they set the stage for the future of the entire industry.
![Tesla Launches FSD in China: First Look [Video]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/fsd-beta/china/6cf4975c-22ff-4722-9d07-314a6bd67072_1_201_a.jpeg/29909b90cf00c415243e156becfc2992/6cf4975c-22ff-4722-9d07-314a6bd67072_1_201_a.jpg)
![Will Tesla's Unsupervised FSD Require a Front Bumper Camera? [Opinion]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/model-y-2025/model-y-front-bumper-camera.webp/dfcea62aaa60b357e8a95c229135289e/model-y-front-bumper-camera.jpg)
_300w.png)
