Steering system for a vehicle having a magnetic paddle shift system

A method of operating a steering system for a vehicle, the steering system comprising a steering column extending longitudinally along an axis, a steering wheel coupled to the steering column and rotatable relative to the steering column about the axis between a plurality of rotational positions, and a magnetic paddle shift system for selecting a gear of a transmission of the vehicle, the magnetic paddle shift system comprising a sensor assembly mounted to the steering column and comprising a sensor array disposed about the axis, first and second paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel and spaced from one another about the axis and rotatable with the steering wheel about the axis relative to the sensor assembly between the plurality of rotational positions, with each of the first and second paddle shifters extending radially away from the axis from a proximal end closer to the axis to a distal end for engagement by a user, a first magnet disposed at the proximal end of the first paddle shifter, and a second magnet disposed at the proximal end of the second paddle shifter with the first and second magnets disposed in alignment with the sensor array in any of the rotational positions of the steering wheel, the first and second magnets being movable relative to the sensor array between a first position and a second position, the first and second magnets being spaced apart from the sensor array in both of the first and second positions, said method comprising the steps of:

• actuating the first paddle shifter;
• moving the first magnet from the first position to the second position and closer to the sensor array;
• sensing the first magnet in the second position with the sensor array for any of the rotational positions of the steering wheel for selecting a higher gear of the transmission;
• actuating the second paddle shifter;
• moving the second magnet from the first position to the second position and closer to the sensor array;
• and
• sensing the second magnet in the second position with the sensor array for any of the rotational positions of the steering wheel for selecting a lower gear of the transmission.