WABCO to Collaborate on Global Active Steering with Nexteer

WABCO, which is leading global supplier of technologies and services to improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Nexteer Automotive, which is a global leader in intuitive motion control. The two companies would collaborate on the development and supply of active steering systems for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles using Nexteer MagnaSteer Actuation Technology. This is Nexteer’s breakthrough product in advanced steering assistance. They will work on integrating MagnaSteer’s proven technology with Sheppard’s suite of power steering gears. The Sheppard suite has set a benchmark for heavy-duty commercial and specialty vehicles.
WABCO has already signed an agreement to acquire Sheppard, and this deal is expected to conclude soon by the third quarter of 2017 after receiving approval from regulators. There is already an exclusivity agreement in place between Nexteer and Sheppard, and this will allow WABCO to come up with a compact, cost-effective, breakthrough technological solution that will allow manufacturers of commercial vehicles to offer active steering control on an exclusive basis. WABCO also has exclusive access to this technology for all medium- and heavy-duty commercial truck markets outside North America, other than China.

Commenting on the agreement with Nexteer, Jorge Solis, WABCO President, Truck, Bus and Car Original Equipment Manufacturers Division said, that it marked another key milestone in WABCO’s advances toward enabling self-driving commercial vehicles. The company is focusing on the fundamental technologies like active steering, active braking, electronic stability control and other advanced driver assistance systems that serve as the intermediary steps in realizing the concept of fully autonomous driving.”

Nexteer’s MagnaSteer comes with a modular design that can be integrated fully within Sheppard’s gear product line. It is flexible and scales efficiently for manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. MagnaSteer can make vehicles safer and more comfortable to drive when compared to the use of conventional steering gears. Active steering also enables further advanced driver assistance systems with steering correction, lane keeping and lane centering functionalities, among other advancements.

“We are excited to partner with WABCO,” said Brian Darling, Product Line Executive, Nexteer Automotive. “Our industry-leading MagnaSteer will be fully integrated into the strategy of this industry leader on an exclusive basis in the medium- to heavy-duty commercial truck market to create opportunities for further growth.”