Embodiments may allow the steering wheel to be received in a vehicle body to secure a space for the driver's seat in autonomous driving mode and prevent the steering wheel from interfering with the driver's body, thereby allowing for the driver's comfortable movement while preventing the driver from intervening in steering. It is also possible to implement a further simplified folding structure of the steering wheel, providing more advantages in terms of costs and space.

A steering section of a steer-by-wire system includes a handle having a center axis of rotation arranged in the front-rear direction, and a handle-support shaft having a center axis arranged in the front-rear direction and that is supported so as not to be able to rotate about the center axis with respect to the vehicle. The handle is rotatably supported so as to be able to rotate about the center axis of rotation with respect to the rear-end portion of the handle-support shaft. The center axis of the handle-support shaft is arranged so as to be offset upward with respect to the center axis of rotation of the handle.

A steering section of a steer-by-wire system includes a handle having a center axis of rotation arranged in the front-rear direction, and a handle-support shaft having a center axis arranged in the front-rear direction and that is supported so as not to be able to rotate about the center axis with respect to the vehicle. The handle is rotatably supported so as to be able to rotate about the center axis of rotation with respect to the rear-end portion of the handle-support shaft. The center axis of the handle-support shaft is arranged so as to be offset upward with respect to the center axis of rotation of the handle.

Various implementations include a steering wheel assembly. The assembly includes a hub, a steering grip, and a hinging mechanism. The hub is configured to be rotatably coupled to a steering column such that the hub is rotatable about a central axis of the steering column. The steering grip has one or more spokes. The hinging mechanism couples the one or more spokes to the hub such that the steering grip is rotatable relative to the hub about a rotational axis from a first position to a second position. The rotational axis is perpendicular to the central axis of the steering column.

Various implementations include a steering wheel assembly. The assembly includes a hub, a steering grip, and a hinging mechanism. The hub is configured to be rotatably coupled to a steering column such that the hub is rotatable about a central axis of the steering column. The steering grip has one or more spokes. The hinging mechanism couples the one or more spokes to the hub such that the steering grip is rotatable relative to the hub about a rotational axis from a first position to a second position. The rotational axis is perpendicular to the central axis of the steering column.

A steering wheel assembly includes a rim that is movably connected to a base for movement between driving and utility positions. A movement control mechanism is configured to selectively lock the rim in the driving position relative to the base structure. The motion control mechanism includes a detent that is configured to retain the rim structure in the utility position relative to the base structure, whereby a user can apply a force to the rim structure to overcome the detent and move the rim structure from the utility position to the driving position.

A steering wheel assembly includes a rim that is movably connected to a base for movement between driving and utility positions. A movement control mechanism is configured to selectively lock the rim in the driving position relative to the base structure. The motion control mechanism includes a detent that is configured to retain the rim structure in the utility position relative to the base structure, whereby a user can apply a force to the rim structure to overcome the detent and move the rim structure from the utility position to the driving position.

A switch device includes: a first operation unit disposed in a first region; and at least one of a second operation unit disposed in a second region and a third operation unit disposed in a third region. The first region is a region surrounding a reference point and an upper point. The second region is a region surrounding an outer point, a lower point, and an outer lower point. The third region is a region surrounding an inner upper point and an inner lower point. An outer shape of the first operation unit is smaller than each of an outer shape of the second operation unit and an outer shape of the third operation unit.

A switch device includes: a first operation unit disposed in a first region; and at least one of a second operation unit disposed in a second region and a third operation unit disposed in a third region. The first region is a region surrounding a reference point and an upper point. The second region is a region surrounding an outer point, a lower point, and an outer lower point. The third region is a region surrounding an inner upper point and an inner lower point. An outer shape of the first operation unit is smaller than each of an outer shape of the second operation unit and an outer shape of the third operation unit.

A steering wheel assembly has a central hub configured to connect to a steering column, at least one retractable hand grip attached to the central hub, one or more control cables disposed internal of each retractable hand grip, and a drive mechanism connected to the control cables. The drive mechanism is located either at or in the central hub or remotely relative to the steering wheel assembly. The drive mechanism when activated can selectively move one or more of the control cables to move the retractable grips to a retracted position or a non-retracted position. Optionally, the hand grips can be connected directly to the central hub and/or to one or more spokes extending form the central hub. Each of the retractable hand grips has at least one and up to four control cables.