In 2026, the fervor in China's automotive market is no longer solely centered around "refrigerators, color TVs, and large sofas," endless range competitions, or word games over intelligent driving level definitions. A transformation that is more critical to the next-generation intelligence of the entire vehicle has evolved from concept to reality, rapidly becoming the core fouandation defining future intelligent NEVs (New Energy Vehicles) — Chassis-by-Wire has entered the window period for system-level industrialization.
01. Clear Policies and Implemented Standards: The Hundred-Billion Window for Chassis-by-Wire Fully Opens
In 2026, the official implementation of two key national standards marks a milestone. First, the formal implementation of GB 21670-2025 transforms the Electromechanical Brake (EMB) system from "technically feasible" to "legally compliant." Second, GB 17675-2025 removes the mandatory requirement for retaining mechanical connections in steering systems, issuing a pass for the deployment of Steer-by-Wire (SBW) technology. The implementation of these two standards is equivalent to unbinding the "hands" and "feet" of the Chassis-by-Wire, thoroughly clearing the final regulatory obstacles for its integration into vehicles.
With policies opening the floodgates, the market follows suit. Over the past few months, SBW and EMB have been successively deployed in multiple vehicle models. Transitioning from show floor concepts to mass-produced products driving on real roads, the "complete" chassis—comprising SBW, EMB, and the previously widely applied wire-controlled suspension, completely free from mechanical and hydraulic constraints—has officially knocked on the door of commercialization. Chassis-by-Wire enters the era of XYZ three-axis synergistic competition.
Synergistic Path of Chassis-by-Wire
Furthermore, major automakers are rapidly advancing the popularization of urban NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) and the deployment of L3 and above intelligent driving, accelerating the process of chassis-by-wire. From January to May 2026, the shipment volume of new vehicles with urban NOA as standard equipment and pre-installed hardware reached 1.454 million units, a year-on-year increase of 62.8%. It is estimated that for the full year of 2026, the shipment volume of new vehicles with urban NOA as standard equipment and pre-installed hardware will surge to the 5 million mark. At the end of 2025, two vehicle models that obtained L3 access permission from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) officially announced that intelligent driving has entered the commercialization exploration stage of L3 autonomous driving, further releasing the planning and application demand for Chassis-by-Wire.
Consequently, the two national standards and the commercial deployment of advanced autonomous driving jointly spawn a hundred-billion market scale for Chassis-by-Wire. According to forecasts by ZoZo Auto Research, the market size of Chassis-by-Wire will exceed 50 billion RMB in 2026, and this figure is expected to surpass 100 billion RMB by 2030.
02. Escalating Competition: System-Level Intelligent Chassis Solution Providers Seize the Initiative
As advanced autonomous driving poses higher requirements for safety redundancy and precise control, Chassis-by-Wire has become a new focus in the intelligent competition among automakers. The competitive trend is increasingly upgrading from the original "single-point breakthrough" to "XYZ three-axis synergy." Domestic aggressive players, such as Li Auto L9 Livis, have implemented a high-level Chassis-by-Wire solution integrating SBW + EMB + wire-controlled suspension. Most OEMs adopt the solution of SBW paired with EHB (Electro-Hydraulic Brake) and wire-controlled suspension. Overseas, Mercedes-Benz has adopted a chassis combination of SBW + AIRMATIC air suspension + Brake-by-Wire in its new EQS model. The model is currently available for pre-sale in Europe and is expected to launch in China in Q4 2026. On July 1, 2026, Tesla's autonomous electric vehicle Cybercab has commenced engineering testing in Austin, Texas, USA. According to a video uploaded by Elon Musk on an overseas platform, the Cybercab has adopted a design with "no steering wheel, no accelerator, and no brake pedal," a design made possible precisely by Chassis-by-Wire.
Some Vehicle Models Adopting the "XYZ Three-Axis Synergy" Chassis Solution
Market demand stimulates supply chain development. The previous single-product strategy of chassis suppliers is facing challenges in the current competitive environment, and the industry is transitioning from single-point breakthroughs to systematic solutions. The traditional automotive chassis supply chain has a clear division of labor: brake suppliers only focus on brakes, and steering suppliers only focus on steering, with no overlap. The three ECUs for braking, steering, and suspension operate independently. However, in the L3 era, what is required is the millisecond-level synergistic linkage of the XYZ three axes of the chassis. If suppliers can provide system-level solutions integrating wire-controlled technologies, they can release greater utility in the L3/L4 era and seize the initiative in competition.
Product Layout of Some Chassis Solution Providers
Among overseas chassis suppliers, currently only ZF has achieved a complete product layout for the XYZ three axes of the chassis as well as chassis domain control. Regarding domestic suppliers, Bethel has further improved its XYZ chassis product system by acquiring and integrating Yubei Steering, while simultaneously advancing the R&D and implementation of chassis domain control solutions. Leadek Technology is also one of the few enterprises in the industry that has completed a full-domain layout of braking, steering, suspension, and chassis domain control. Its wire-controlled braking and intelligent steering products have achieved scaled shipments, and it is steadily transforming from a braking and steering component manufacturer to a system-level intelligent chassis solution provider.
03. The L3 Era Has Arrived: Redundant Chassis-by-Wire is Essential
As domestic L3 intelligent driving officially enters the stage of mass production and deployment, it forces the industry to re-examine the value of the chassis. Chassis-by-Wire has become an essential foundation for achieving redundant control and safe operation in L3 and above advanced intelligent driving.
The transition of intelligent driving levels from L2 to L3 shifts the vehicle control entity from the driver to the system, marking a watershed moment for the transfer of responsibility from humans to the system. GB/T 44721-2024 explicitly requires that L3 systems must possess execution-level redundancy: core execution mechanisms such as steering and braking must be equipped with dual-system backups and seamless fault-switching capabilities, ensuring that the vehicle remains safe and controllable after a single component failure.
Braking and Steering Redundancy Solutions under L3 Intelligent Driving
In terms of braking, EHB + redundancy module is the current mainstream solution and will continue to dominate over the next five years. Examples include Bosch IPB + RBU, DPB + ESP (adopted by Xiaomi SU7 and SU7 Ultra), Continental MK C1 HAD, and Leadek IHB + RBU. Such solutions meet the "fail-operational" requirements and serve as transitional solutions for L3 intelligent driving. The implementation of the new national standard in 2026 provides a regulatory basis for the EMB system for the first time and imposes mandatory requirements on its redundancy design, possessing natural redundancy functions. Currently, only some domestic models, such as the high-end trims of Li Auto L9 Livis and Exeed EX7, are equipped with the EMB solution for small-batch mass production.
Regarding steering, redundant EPS (Electric Power Steering) remains the current mainstream mass production path. From multiple dimensions such as technical maturity, cost, and working condition verification cycle, redundant EPS is undoubtedly the king of cost-effectiveness in the L3 intelligent driving era. Currently, multiple models such as Hyper A800, Maextro S800, and Voyah Taishan have adopted the redundant EPS solution. As the ultimate solution for L4/L5 autonomous driving, SBW obtained regulatory endorsement in 2026 and has been rapidly deployed in models such as Li Auto L9 Livis, XPeng GX, NIO ES9, IM LS8, and AITO M9.
For L3 redundant steering solutions, in addition to using redundant EPS or SBW for the front wheels, rear-wheel steering has also become a popular supporting choice. Besides effectively improving vehicle steering performance, when a single line of SBW fails, rear-wheel steering can collaborate with the braking system to control the vehicle, achieving safe degradation and pulling over. According to the ZoZo Auto Research database, from January to May 2026, the installation volume of rear-wheel steering reached 101,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 149%.
L3 Redundant Steering Solutions of Some Chassis Suppliers
Currently, among international Chassis-by-Wire manufacturers, ZF and Nexteer have achieved dual mass production and project nominations for RWS (Rear-Wheel Steering) and SBW. Domestic manufacturers are accelerating their catch-up. It is understood that Leadek's R-EPS product has received a nomination from an overseas customer and is expected to enter mass production within 2026. The SBW product will complete technical development and verification within the year, with SOP (Start of Production) expected in 2028. Its SBW solution can collaborate with the braking system; under extreme conditions, it can apply differential braking force control to the left and right wheels, helping the vehicle maintain driving stability and keep steering controllable, thereby enhancing the safety redundancy capability of the entire vehicle chassis.
As L3 intelligent driving accelerates its deployment, the competition for Chassis-by-Wire will also upgrade from the comparison of single execution components to a system-level capability contest involving the synergy of multiple actuators such as braking, steering, suspension, and chassis domain control. Suppliers equipped with complete intelligent chassis solution capabilities are expected to seize the definition right and initiative in the next phase of competition.
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