Ford has moved a step closer in its plans to make autonomous vehicles after it was granted a patent for a car with a fully removable steering wheel and foot pedals.

The US car giant's design would allow the steering wheel to be removed from the vehicle, placing the air bag in a compartment in front of what was the driver's seat.

Ford said the steering wheel, which would be refitted if needed for tasks such as testing the car, could be an optional extra in future.

"[The removable wheel] enables the easy provision of a steering wheel as a customer-requested option," the company said in the patent.