Nexteer puts steer-by-wire into series production

Nexteer Automotive has started series production of its first Steer-by-Wire (SbW) system, fitted to a passenger vehicle from an unnamed Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer. The Tier 1 supplier said the deployment is part of what it calls the world’s first production passenger vehicle with a full drive-by-wire chassis.

Steer-by-wire replaces the mechanical link between the hand wheel and road wheels with electronic signals and actuators, removing the steering column. The architecture is increasingly seen as foundational for intelligent chassis platforms and higher levels of automated driving, where steering, braking and throttle all need to accept machine inputs.

Nexteer’s system was certified to ASIL D functional safety in late 2025 by Germany’s DAkkS accreditation body, the highest functional safety classification under ISO 26262. The Tier 1 said the design uses dual controllers, dual power supplies, multiple communication links and dual actuation paths, with backup paths taking over within milliseconds in the event of a single fault.

Other features include an adjustable steering ratio that varies with vehicle speed and drive mode, software-defined road-feel simulation, and an open interface for ADAS and automated driving systems.

The SbW programme sits within Nexteer’s broader Motion-by-Wire portfolio, which also covers rear-wheel steering, brake-by-wire and the MotionIQ software suite. Nexteer did not name the customer or specify launch volumes.

Source: Nexteer Automotive