Steering column switch for a motor vehicle

A steering column switch for a vehicle, comprising:

• a housing having a switch gate;
• a switching lever actuatable by being pivotable with respect to the housing, the switching lever having a locking pin;
• the switch gate configured to have the locking pin assume a stable switch position when the switching lever is not actuated, guide the locking pin from the stable switch position to a first unstable switch position when the switching lever is actuated in a first direction, guide the locking pin from the stable switch position to a second unstable switch position when the switching lever is actuated in a second direction, and return the locking pin from either unstable switch position to the stable switch position when actuation of the switching lever is discontinued;
• a switch body having a first arm with a first permanent magnet and a second arm with a second permanent magnet, the switch body connected to the switching lever to pivot with the switching lever in relation to the housing;
• an electromagnet fixed to the housing;
• and
• wherein the first permanent magnet is brought against the electromagnet by the switching lever being actuated to pivot into the first unstable switch position and the switching lever is held in the first unstable switch position for a first period, during which a first function associated with the switching lever being actuated into the first unstable position is active, by magnetic attraction between the first permanent magnet and the electromagnet, wherein upon expiration of the first period the electromagnet is controlled into a switched-on state to generate an opposing magnetic field interrupting the magnetic attraction between the first permanent magnet and the electromagnet so that the switching lever is returned by the switch gate from the first unstable switch position back to the stable switch position.