[Zeke]

Help me out here. I thought steer by wire was pretty common. I know Toyota has a model coming out with it in the front. Nissan has had it. But I thought all cars with stay-in-the-lane technology had electronic input. Then there's the rear steer thing.

What is different in a self driving car other than there is a steering wheel to grab onto? If the driver does not have a grip on the wheel, what is driving the car?

So what is being said is the real innovation here is the elimination of the steering shaft? That's it?

Yes, I understand that the only connection from driver input to steering components will be a wire controlling a motor. I just don't understand what the news story here is.