Which cars use drive-by-wire technology?

Nearly all modern cars use some form of drive-by-wire—especially electronic throttle control—while many hybrids and EVs add brake-by-wire, and a smaller but growing group offers steer-by-wire in select markets. In practice, “drive-by-wire” spans several subsystems: accelerator/throttle-by-wire (now ubiquitous), brake-by-wire (common in EVs/hybrids and performance cars), and steer-by-wire (still rare but expanding). Below is a clear breakdown of what it means and which cars use it today.

What “drive-by-wire” means in today’s cars

Drive-by-wire replaces a direct mechanical linkage (cables, vacuum boosters, hydraulic feel) with electronic sensors, computers, and actuators. Most cars on the road already rely on it for the accelerator pedal and for gear selection; many also use it for braking; a few now use it for steering with robust redundancies.

Almost every new car: electronic throttle and other common by-wire systems

Electronic throttle control (throttle-by-wire) has been near-universal for two decades. Likewise, shift-by-wire selectors and electronic parking brakes are standard on a wide range of models. The examples below illustrate how broad this adoption is.

• Mainstream compacts and sedans (mid‑2000s onward): Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, VW Golf/Jetta, Subaru Impreza, Ford Focus (through 2018), Chevrolet Cruze (through 2019).
• Popular crossovers/SUVs and trucks: Toyota RAV4/Highlander/Tacoma, Honda CR‑V/Pilot, Ford F‑150/Explorer, Chevrolet Silverado/Equinox, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Subaru Forester/Outback, Hyundai Tucson/Santa Fe, Kia Sportage/Sorento.
• Luxury/performance lines: BMW 3/5/X3/X5, Mercedes‑Benz C/E/GLC/GLE, Audi A3/A4/Q5/Q7, Lexus IS/ES/RX, Porsche Macan/Cayenne, Acura TLX/MDX, Infiniti Q50/QX60, Genesis G70/G80/GV70/GV80.
• Shift‑by‑wire and electronic parking brakes: widely used across the same brands above, particularly on vehicles launched since roughly 2015.

The takeaway: if you’re looking at any mainstream model from the mid‑2000s onward, it almost certainly uses throttle-by-wire, and many trims add shift-by-wire and electronic parking brakes as standard.

Models known for brake-by-wire (blended or fully decoupled pedal feel)

Brake-by-wire typically means your brake pedal is read by sensors and a control unit that commands hydraulic pressure and blends regenerative braking (in electrified cars). Most systems still retain hydraulics to the calipers with fail-safe strategies; some use “one-box” integrated modules. Here are well-documented examples.

• EVs and PHEVs with blended braking:
  

  • Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X (Bosch iBooster-equipped).
  • Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT (advanced regen blending with electromechanical boosters).
  • Mercedes-Benz EQ series (EQS, EQE, EQB; AMG variants also use integrated by-wire brake control).
  • BMW i4, i7, iX (integrated braking systems with pedal feel simulators).
  • Audi Q4 e-tron/Q8 e-tron; VW ID.3/ID.4/ID.7 (regen blending with electronic brake boosters).
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5/6 and Kia EV6/EV9; Genesis GV60 (IBAU/iBooster-type systems).
  • Ford Mustang Mach‑E and F‑150 Lightning (by-wire booster and regen coordination).
  • GM Ultium platform models: Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV/Equinox EV, GMC Hummer EV (strong one‑pedal/regen integration).
  • Toyota/Lexus hybrids and EVs (e.g., Prius, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus UX/ES hybrid; Lexus RZ) use electronic brake control modules for regen + friction blending.

• Performance and premium vehicles with integrated “brake-by-wire” modules:
  

  • Chevrolet Corvette C8 (electro-hydraulic eBoost system, variable pedal feel modes).
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia/Stelvio (Continental integrated brake system).
  • Ferrari SF90 Stradale/296 GTB and related modern hybrids (regen/friction blending via by-wire control).
  • Maserati MC20 and newer Maserati SUVs/sedans with integrated brake modules.
  • Many recent BMW M, AMG, and Audi RS models offer configurable brake feel using by-wire modulation.

If it’s an EV or hybrid from the past several years, there’s a strong chance it uses brake-by-wire blending; many recent performance cars do as well, often marketed as “integrated braking” or “e‑boosted” brakes.

Models offering steer-by-wire (still limited, with regional availability)

Steer-by-wire removes the continuous mechanical link between the steering wheel and the road wheels, instead using sensors, control units, and electric actuators—with multiple redundancies and often a mechanical backup clutch. It remains uncommon but is appearing in production cars.

• Infiniti:
  

  • Infiniti Q50 (2014–present in many markets): Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS), with mechanical backup; also sold as Nissan Skyline in Japan.
  • Infiniti Q60 (2017–2022, where equipped): DAS.

• Toyota/Lexus (One Motion Grip steer-by-wire):
  

  • Lexus RZ 450e: steer-by-wire offered in select markets (notably Japan and China; broader rollout staged into 2025 in other regions).
  • Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra: steer-by-wire available in Japan-market configurations; phased/limited availability elsewhere.

• Nissan:
  

  • Select applications continue the DAS concept beyond Infiniti; availability varies by region and model cycle (check local Ariya specifications; some markets reference steer-by-wire implementations or enhanced by-wire steering control).

Unlike electric power steering (EPAS), which still uses a mechanical rack, true steer-by-wire decouples the wheel and rack under normal operation and relies on redundancy. For now, availability depends heavily on market and trim.

Other by-wire systems you’ll encounter

Beyond throttle, brakes, and steering, modern cars use electronics to replace mechanical linkages in several areas. The following are widely adopted and often marketed under different names.

• Shift-by-wire: electronic gear selectors in automatic/CVT/dual‑clutch cars (console toggles, buttons, stalk shifters).
• Electronic parking brakes (EPB): switch-controlled parking brakes with auto-hold.
• Active damping and suspension-by-wire: electronically controlled dampers, air springs, and roll stabilization (e.g., MagneRide, adaptive air suspensions).
• Torque-vectoring by wire: brake- or motor‑based yaw control in AWD/EVs and performance cars.
• Drive mode selectors: software-defined throttle mapping, brake feel, steering weight, and shift logic.

These systems show how “by-wire” has become the default across vehicle dynamics, allowing software to tune behavior for comfort, efficiency, or performance.

How to confirm whether a specific car uses drive-by-wire

If you want to verify a particular model or trim, use the steps below to confirm the presence and type of by-wire systems.

1. Check the owner’s manual or spec sheet for terms like Electronic Throttle Control (ETC), Brake‑by‑wire, Integrated Brake System, iBooster, MK C1, Steer‑by‑wire, Direct Adaptive Steering, or One Motion Grip.
2. Look for features that imply by-wire: one‑pedal driving, adjustable brake feel, regen blending, electronic parking brake, or unusual steering yokes with variable ratios.
3. Search the automaker’s technical documentation or press materials for the specific model year and region—steer‑by‑wire, in particular, is market‑dependent.
4. Ask a dealer’s service department or consult enthusiast/technical forums; technicians can confirm modules fitted to your VIN.

Because naming varies by brand and market, digging into official documentation for your exact model year and region is the most reliable approach.

Bottom line

Today’s answer is broad: nearly every modern car uses drive-by-wire for the throttle, many add brake-by-wire (especially EVs and hybrids), and a growing but still limited set offers steer-by-wire in select regions. If you’re shopping 2010s–2025 models, assume throttle-by-wire is standard; check specs for brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire by name.

Summary

Drive-by-wire is now the norm for throttle and widely used for braking, with steer-by-wire emerging in production from Infiniti and Toyota/Lexus (regionally). EVs and hybrids from Tesla, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW, Hyundai/Kia/Genesis, Ford, GM, and Toyota/Lexus commonly use brake-by-wire to blend regeneration with friction brakes. For exact capabilities, verify by model year and market, as branding and availability can differ.

Do new cars have drive-by-wire?

What do cars like the Tesla Cybertruck, a Lexus RZ and most of Ferrari’s line-up have in common? They’re all production cars that use ‘drive-by-wire’ technology – engineering and software that enables control of a car’s movement without the need for a physical engineering.

Do modern cars use drive-by-wire?

The age of purely mechanical connections in an automobile is over. Today, drive-by-wire technology is increasingly used in new vehicle powertrains, especially in electrified vehicles and those with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

Which cars have brake by wire?

Brake-by-wire systems are primarily found in electric and hybrid vehicles across many brands, including Toyota, Lexus, Ford, General Motors (GM), and Hyundai/Kia/Genesis. You can also find them in some performance and luxury non-electrified models like the C8 Chevrolet Corvette, Audi e-tron, Porsche Taycan, and specific Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW models.
 
Examples of Cars with Brake-by-Wire Systems

• Toyota and Lexus: Toyota’s Electronically Controlled Brake (ECB) was the first production brake-by-wire system, debuting on the Toyota Estima hybrid and later on the Lexus RX 400h. 
• General Motors (GM): Found in models like the C8 Corvette, as well as some Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet vehicles. 
• Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis: All electrified vehicles from the Hyundai Motor Group use integrated electronic brakes (IEB). 
• Ford: Commonly used in their electric and hybrid models. 
• Alfa Romeo: The Giulia and Stelvio are equipped with brake-by-wire. 
• Audi and Porsche: Electric models like the Audi e-tron and Porsche Taycan utilize the technology. 
• BMW: Found in some models, including the G20 3-Series. 

Why Brake-by-Wire is Common in Electrified Vehicles

• Integration with Regenerative Braking: Brake-by-wire systems seamlessly blend the regenerative braking (which uses the electric motor to slow the car and recharge the battery) with traditional friction braking, providing a smooth and efficient experience. 
• Enhanced Precision and Control: The computer-controlled system allows for precise adjustments to braking force, improving overall safety and performance. 

How it Works

• Instead of a direct physical link, a sensor measures how the driver presses the brake pedal. 
• A control unit interprets this information and sends an electronic signal to apply the necessary braking force, either through regenerative braking or hydraulic pressure. 

What vehicles are drive-by-wire?

Drive-by-wire is a general automotive term encompassing electronic throttle control, brake-by-wire, and steer-by-wire systems. While most cars since the late 1980s have had drive-by-wire for the throttle, steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire are newer technologies found in some electric and hybrid models, including the Tesla Cybertruck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Rolls-Royce Spectre, and Lexus RZ 450e. 
Drive-by-Wire for Throttle 

• What it is: Electronic throttle control, also known as “drive-by-wire,” eliminates the mechanical cable linking the accelerator pedal to the throttle body, replacing it with electronic sensors and actuators.
• Availability: This system has been standard in most vehicles since the late 1980s, including all hybrid and electric models, as well as many gasoline cars.

Steer-by-Wire Systems 

• What it is: Steer-by-wire removes the mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the steering rack, relying on sensors and electronic motors to control the wheels.
• Notable vehicles:
  • Tesla Cybertruck: This vehicle uses a steer-by-wire system without a traditional steering column.
  • Rolls-Royce Spectre: Features a rear-axle steer-by-wire system with a conventional front-wheel steering column.
  • Lotus Eletre & GMC Hummer EV: Both use rear-axle steer-by-wire systems.
  • Chevrolet Silverado EV & Ford F-150 Lightning: These electric trucks also incorporate steer-by-wire technology.
  • Lexus RZ 450e: A planned production vehicle with a no-steering-column steer-by-wire system.
  • Toyota bZ4X & Geely Super Van: Also planned to feature no-steering-column steer-by-wire systems.

Brake-by-Wire Systems 

• What it is: Similar to other by-wire technologies, this system replaces the hydraulic brake system with electronic controls and electric motors.
• Availability: Widely used in most hybrid and electric vehicles produced since 1998, including models from Toyota, Ford, and General Motors.