Steering wheel mounting for transmission shift controls

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a steering wheel that can be grasped by a driver who is facing the steering wheel and turned about an axis of turning to steer the vehicle,
• an engine,
• a drivetrain,
• a transmission that provides different gear ratios for coupling the engine to the drivetrain, and
• a transmission controller that in a first mode automatically shifts the transmission from one gear ratio to another in response to changing vehicle torque requirements and in a second mode shifts the transmission from one gear ratio to another in response to actuation of a shift command device by a driver of the vehicle,
• wherein a mode selection device for selecting between the first and second modes and the shift command device are both disposed on the steering wheel in the same semi-circumference of the steering wheel to one side of a diameter of the steering wheel that as viewed by the driver extends between 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions when the steering wheel is steering the vehicle in a straight line.