Report: China looks to issue ban on yoke steering wheels

Following in the footsteps of a recent ban on flush door handles, China is looking to issue a ban on yoke-style steering wheels, according to a recent report. 

First published by Autohome, the report states a draft from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been found relating to regulations surrounding steering wheels. 

Though yet to be approved, the draft is reportedly just one step away from going through, which will introduce a ban in early 2027. 

Instead of directly going after the design of a yoke steering wheel, the document seems to mandate safety testing of a regular steering wheel. 

It calls for strength testing and ten points around the rim, and specifically calls for testing of the mid-point, which is the “weakest”, and something a yoke does not possess. 

The report also states the yoke was directly referenced in one of the early iterations of the document, but was subsequently removed before the draft was published. 

If this ban goes ahead, it is set to come into effect on January 1 2027. 

First appearing on the updated Tesla Model S, steering yokes have been slow to gain traction in the mainstream automotive industry. 

Closer to home, the Lexus RZ has recently launched in New Zealand with a yoke, representing the first vehicle to do so locally. 

The updated Mercedes-Benz EQS and select IM models also feature a yoke, and will likely go on sale in New Zealand in the near future.