Steer-by-Wire: 1 System. Every Vehicle. Scalable Savings, Speed & Supercharged Experiences

Automakers invest billions in vehicle lineups, constantly balancing cutting-edge innovations with cost, complexity and speed-to-market – while competition intensifies globally. Leadership in the global market requires three ingredients: Standardization, speed and supercharged user experiences. A piecemeal approach to new technologies adds cost, slows adoption and limits scalability.

Steer-by-Wire (SbW) changes that.

When implemented across an entire platform – or even enterprise-wide – SbW isn’t just a technological leap; it’s a business strategy that can drive significant cost savings, streamline production and revolutionize cabin design and user-experience!

The Business Case: One Steering System. All Vehicles.  

SbW is the ONLY single steering system that applies to ALL vehicle segments, propulsion types, right- and left-hand drive and supports all ADAS levels 0-5. 

Even still, many OEMs’ product plans apply SbW for only select models. This vehicle-by-vehicle approach creates a perceived cost barrier because decision-makers compare SbW’s required investment versus keeping an existing Electric Power Steering System (EPS).

But when OEMs shift to an enterprise-wide business strategy, they unlock unprecedented efficiencies and SbW’s scalable payback – where the financial and operational benefits could surpass their SbW investment. Here are just a few considerations…

• Fewer components, lower costs. SbW replaces the intermediate shaft with software that creates a virtual steering ratio between the handwheel and roadwheels. This DRASTICALLY reduces steering gear part numbers, simplifying steering configurations resulting in fewer parts to manage, store and track.
• Standardization and speed-to-market. One steering system for all propulsion types, vehicle sizes and regional variations reduces design and validation complexity and accelerates speed-to-market.
• Faster assembly and easier packaging. With fewer hardware components, SbW could streamline assembly and road-wheel-to-steering-wheel alignment.
• More underhood space. Removing mechanical steering components opens valuable space for other technology.

For OEMs, these efficiencies can translate into significant cost savings, faster vehicle launches and a competitive edge in a market that demands both innovation and affordability. On a related note, this Automotive News article explores how Chinese OEMs are surpassing legacy automakers by leveraging standardization, cost efficiency and rapid launches of affordable, tech-packed vehicles.

The Competitive Case: SbW as a Brand Differentiator DISRUPTOR

Beyond operational efficiencies, SbW delivers supercharged experiences that can drive consumer excitement and demand. With SbW, automakers can:

• REVOLUTIONIZE “behind-the-wheel” experiences and create a cockpit of the future. With SbW, the steering interface (doesn’t have to be a steering wheel) placement is completely flexible and enables stowable steering and Quiet Wheel Steering. Most importantly, it allows OEMs to totally redefine cockpit design, maximize space and create new, exciting experiences – from traditional to fully automated using one common steering system.
• Immerse buyers in your unique brand experience. Steering feel can be tuned to match luxury, sport or truck performance profiles — all customizable via software, using common hardware.
• Appeal to buyers of ALL ages and abilities. Software-enabled, adaptive steering-assist could be applied for people with limited range of motion – especially important in markets with a growing, older consumer base, such as in China, Europe, Japan and US.
• Enhance stability and dynamic variable steering ratios, such as greater maneuverability at low speeds in tight spaces, enhanced stability on high-speed straightaways and even shortened braking distances.
• Achieve next-level safety features, like automatic emergency steering, collision avoidance and more.

The broader OEMs apply SbW, the greater value they can extract – not just in reduced costs but in the ability to enhance safety ratings and supercharge customer experiences that create pricing opportunities.

The Future is Enterprise-Wide & Standardized

SbW isn’t just an incremental upgrade—it’s a transformational opportunity. By standardizing SbW across vehicle platforms, OEMs can capitalize on economies of scale, accelerate product launches and redefine what’s possible in vehicle design and performance.

The future of mobility belongs to OEMs who master the formula of cost, speed, innovation and driver experiences. Those who do will outpace their competition and define what’s next.