TIANJIN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- No need to hold the steering wheel or step on the gas, Chinese scientists have created a car that you control with nothing more than brainpower.

Developed by a research team from Nankai University in Tianjin in collaboration with Chinese car maker Great Wall Motor, the new vehicle was presented to the world for the first time on Wednesday.

The car is controlled via a headset with 16 sensors that sends impulses from the user's brain to the car's processing system. Spectators watched as the vehicle moved forward and backward; and was locked and unlocked -- all through the power of the mind.

The sensors capture brain signals and the recognition system analyzes them, translates them into driving instructions and sends them to the car.

The team who designed the vehicle claim this is the first time Chinese researchers have controlled a car in this way. Duan Feng, associate professor at the university's computing and control engineering department, said that there was still some way to go before the technology can be put into production.

"The technology is quite mature, however, there is some room for improvement concerning the car's electronics, which will make the vehicle more secure, intelligent, and user-friendly," he said.

The technology could transform driving and help disabled people drive, he added.