The 2026 Shanghai International Automotive Chassis Ecosystem Exhibition (AEE Chassis Expo 2026) was recently held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. As a leading provider of intelligent chassis system solutions, Leekr Technology was invited to deliver a presentation titled "Steer-by-Wire: Technology Exploration, Development and Industrialization." The presentation highlighted Leekr's technological achievements and practical experience in steer-by-wire development, alongside its integrated chassis-by-wire solution designed for advanced automated driving.
Figure: Leekr Technology's integrated chassis-by-wire solution, combining brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire and chassis domain control.
According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for 67.0% of domestic passenger vehicle retail sales in September 2026, establishing them as the mainstream of China's passenger vehicle market. As Level 3 and higher automated driving technologies advance toward commercialization, mandatory national safety standards are further clarifying system safety requirements. Against this backdrop, chassis-by-wire technology is becoming a critical enabler of advanced automated driving.
"Advanced automated driving requires decoupling driver inputs from mechanical vehicle controls, making by-wire technology an inevitable direction for intelligent chassis development. Safety, however, remains the prerequisite for large-scale deployment. Redundant electric power steering (EPS) systems have become mainstream, while domestic substitution of column-assist EPS (C-EPS) systems is largely complete. As advanced automated driving moves toward widespread adoption, steer-by-wire (SBW) technology is entering a new phase of opportunities for localization and industrialization," said Leekr Technology's Head of Steering R&D during the presentation.
Advancing Steering | Technology Accelerating Steer-by-Wire Industrialization
In intelligent steering, Leekr has established a comprehensive product portfolio covering electric power steering systems-including column-assist EPS (C-EPS), dual-pinion EPS (DP-EPS), and redundant EPS (R-EPS)-as well as its SBW-LK® steer-by-wire system. The company continues to enhance system redundancy to meet the demands of advanced automated driving.
Figure: Leekr Technology's SBW-LK® steer-by-wire system.
C-EPS, DP-EPS, and redundant R-EPS have all entered mass production. Notably, Leekr's DP-EPS is among the first domestically developed steering systems in China to achieve large-scale production with a high steering rack force of 13.5 kN. Meanwhile, SBW-LK® has entered the validation phase, with mass production targeted for 2028.
Designed for advanced automated driving, Leekr's next-generation SBW-LK® system eliminates the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and road wheels, transmitting steering commands electronically. This enables independent control of steering-wheel feedback and road-wheel steering.
An optional direct-drive motor configuration delivers precise and refined steering feedback, with a maximum steering-wheel feedback torque of 17 N·m and support for a speed-dependent variable steering ratio.
In terms of safety, SBW-LK® features a fully redundant electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture, with a random hardware failure rate of less than 10 FIT. The system is designed to meet ASIL D functional safety requirements and ISO/SAE 21434 automotive cybersecurity requirements, while providing fail-operational capability in the event of a single-point failure.
System Integration | Building an Integrated Chassis-by-Wire Platform
Advanced automated driving depends on seamless multi-system integration and redundant safety architectures. Building on its technological expertise and mass production experience in braking and steering, Leekr is driving deeper integration between the two systems. By combining ASIL D-level functional safety with coordinated braking and steering control, the company is establishing a system-level safety foundation and strengthening its capabilities in integrated intelligent chassis solutions.
To address the more stringent safety requirements of Level 3 and higher automated driving, Leekr's chassis-by-wire solution adopts a "centralized domain controller + layered actuators" architecture. It integrates brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire, and the Ctrio-LK® intelligent vehicle motion domain controller to enable coordinated control across multiple systems.
Featuring a fully redundant safety architecture and millisecond-level response capabilities, the solution supports software-defined functionality and over-the-air (OTA) updates, while enabling optimized vehicle packaging and energy efficiency.
In the era of Physical AI, intelligent vehicles are emerging as a key platform for bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world.
Looking ahead, Leekr Technology will remain committed to full-stack in-house R&D and integrated hardware-software development. By accelerating the convergence of braking, steering, and chassis domain control, the company aims to continuously enhance the precision, safety, and reliability of vehicle motion control.
Through these efforts, Leekr is building a robust actuation foundation for Physical AI, empowering China's intelligent chassis industry to strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.