SAGINAW — Nexteer Automotive, a global leader in advanced steering and driveline systems, produced its 30 millionth electric power steering unit.
EPS uses a combination of electric motors, actuators, sensors and controllers to control steering, replacing earlier mechanical systems and giving drivers better steering control for all driving conditions. It also gives “feel of the road” feedback to the driver.
In addition, Nexteer says EPS is the gateway technology to autonomous driving of the future – the company is also working in house on software, electrical and mechanical systems that could lead to autonomous driving — or, for now, what it calls “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems,” or ADAS.
Drivers on the road benefit from Nexteer’s EPS too. Drivers save money at the pump and reduce their vehicle’s environmental impact. Using these systems can reduce fuel consumption by up to 6 percent and CO2 emissions by 8 grams of emissions per kilometer, and Nexteer estimates that its EPS systems have helped save almost 3 billion gallons of gas since 1999.
“Hitting this significant milestone comes at an exciting time as we celebrate not only how far we’ve come, but also where we’re heading with EPS and other technologies on the path to Advanced Driver Assist Systems and autonomous driving,” said Steve Spicer, Nexteer’s global product line executive for electric steering.
Automotive manufactures have been putting Nexteer’s EPS systems into vehicles since 1999. Nexteer’s EPS systems encompass the full range of vehicles, from small A-B segments to full-size pickups and from sports cars to light commercial vehicles.
Chinese-owned Nexteer Automotive has manufacturing plants in Saginaw; Tychy and Gliwice in Poland; Suzhou and Chongqing, China; Queretaro, Mexico; and Porto Alegre, Brazil. The company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has 11,000 workers serving more than 50 cusotmers.
More at www.nexteer.com.
