Steering systems specialist Nexteer Automotive says it has started series production of its steer-by-wire (SbW) system—its first SbW program in series production. The system launched on a production passenger vehicle for a leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, helping to bring the world’s first production passenger vehicle with a full drive‑by‑wire chassis to market.
Nexteer says the vehicle features Nexteer’s steer‑by‑wire (SbW) system as a key enabler.
The SbW featured in this vehicle marks Nexteer’s first SbW system in series production, representing a ‘major step forward for the technology — moving from development and validation to full-scale production’.
Certified in late 2025, this system achieved ASIL D functional safety approval from DAkkS (German Accreditation Body) through close collaboration with the OEM. This certification reflects global top-tier performance in fault diagnosis, redundancy, and safety monitoring, Nexteer says.
According to Nexteer, key features include:
- Multi-layered redundancy design: Dual controllers, dual power supplies, multiple communication links, and dual actuation paths — achieving redundancy at system, hardware, and software levels. This ensures that in the event of a single fault, the backup path takes over within milliseconds with no loss of steering function.
- Full‑scenario functional safety mechanism: Multi‑level monitoring and fault handling strategies covering sensors, controllers, actuators, and communication links.
- Adjustable steering ratio: Automatically adjusts steering angle and effort based on vehicle speed and driving mode, balancing agility and comfort.
- Intuitive road‑feel simulation technology: Software‑defined steering feedback delivers a more responsive and precise driving experience, adaptable to a wide range of driving scenarios.
- Open interface for autonomous driving: As a key actuation layer for ADAS and autonomous driving systems, it provides real‑time, precise control capabilities, supporting the development of intelligent transportation systems.
Steer-by-wire: electronic signals replace mechanical links
By decoupling the mechanical link between the hand wheel and the road wheels, steer-by-wire replaces conventional mechanical connections with electronic signals and actuators — and, Nexteer maintains, is’ quickly becoming a foundational technology for next-generation intelligent chassis and autonomous driving platforms’.
Nexteer offers a flexible, off-the-shelf portfolio of steering feel simulators and road wheel actuators. It says the modular approach ‘allows us to meet the diverse needs of different vehicle models and driving scenarios efficiently and cost-effectively’.
SbW is part of Nexteer’s larger motion-by-wire portfolio, which includes rear-wheel steering, brake-by-wire and the MotionIQ software suite.
According to Nexteer, these technologies are shaping the future of the software-defined chassis while helping OEMs accelerate development and reduce costs to deliver safer, smarter and more exciting driving experiences.
