Chassis Chinese Institute Identifies Three Benchmark Models for Smart Chassis

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CAERI selects three frontrunners with active suspensions that rely on steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire. Over 70 models are available in the Chinese market, and the supplier ZF has positioned itself well.

How "intelligent" a car really is is increasingly defined by its chassis. Shortly before the turn of the year, the Chinese research institute CAERI published its first comprehensive test report on intelligent chassis in China, reports the technology portal Fenghuanwang Keji.

Three car models have been designated as "benchmark models." These include the luxury sedan Yangwang U7 as well as the Nio ES8 and Luxeed R7 models. All three chassis systems are characterized by active suspension as well as steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technology, it was reported.

Major and Well-Known Brands Are Embracing Smart Chassis

All have undergone extensive testing across 18 different categories. These include demanding driving scenarios in high-risk situations, such as tire blowouts, navigating S-curves, steep inclines, or intersections, driving with assistance at low speeds, or even the "Tank Turn," in which cars spin completely around their own axis.

According to the report, the technology of intelligent chassis is rapidly spreading in China. Since 2024, over 70 production models in the Chinese market have been equipped with intelligent chassis configurations. The report cited examples such as Nio's "SkyRide," BYD's "DiSus," Huawei's "Turing," Xpeng's "Taiji AI," and Changan's "Tianzhu systems."

AI Supports Chassis Control

It was also notable that artificial intelligence is already becoming prevalent in intelligent chassis systems. "By 2030, the automotive industry is expected to transition into an era where vehicle intelligence is defined by AI-driven chassis systems," writes the Chinese think tank Yiou in its latest report titled "When the Chassis Begins to Think Independently."

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The transition from the software-defined phase of "Intelligent Chassis 2.0" to the next phase of "Intelligent Chassis 3.0" has just begun. The latter combines hardware, software, and AI.

An example of what intelligent chassis can already accomplish today was provided by Yu Yinghong, a leading expert in intelligent chassis development at CAERI, when he recently presented his institute's test report.

Chassis Responds Based on Sensor Data

Some models with intelligent chassis are capable of capturing key performance data in real-time during braking. Actuators already adjust the suspension proactively, meaning before the car even reaches a bump, compensating for fluctuations and ensuring a smoother deceleration, Yu stated.

Sensors can also ensure that adjustments are made on very uneven roads before the wheels slip and the car could veer off the road, the CAERI engineer continued.

Market Grows to Over Fourteen Billion Dollars

The market for intelligent chassis is currently experiencing rapid growth in the People's Republic: While its total value was only 10.6 billion yuan (approximately €1.3 billion / $1.5 Billion ) in 2019, recent forecasts predict a volume of 100 billion yuan (approximately €12.4 billion / $14.3 Billion) by 2030, reports CarNewsChina.

In this booming Chinese market, the German supplier ZF is excellently positioned. Not only are the Germans supplying their products to the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio (including its steer-by-wire system for its flagship model ET9), but ZF is also at the forefront of integrating AI into chassis technology.

ZF Introduces New Additional Functions

One example is "AI Road Sense," which ZF recently showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. ZF describes it as an "AI-based software solution that utilizes state-of-the-art sensors to adjust the chassis in real-time to changing road and surface conditions—regardless of whether on winter roads, off-road, or when transitioning between different surfaces."

"AI Road Sense can help reduce drivers' uncertainty about challenging road conditions. The system detects potentially dangerous situations in fractions of a second and reacts faster than human reaction times allow. This ensures that the vehicle's behavior always meets the driver's expectations, enhancing confidence and their sense of safety at the wheel," said Peter Holdmann, who oversees passenger car chassis technology at ZF.

ZF also presented a software function for active noise reduction in the vehicle's interior at CES, called "Active Noise Reduction." Along with its steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technologies and new AI functions, ZF is thus cementing German technological leadership in areas that are currently in high demand in China.