Schaeffler Automotive Symposium 2026 Improved comfort, convenience, safety, and road handling in modern vehicles: Schaeffler drives product innovations in chassis and body domain

2026-05-22 | Bühl

• Innovations in vibration damping, steering, brakes, and sensors are catering to changing mobility requirements
• Keyless vehicle access, sensor cleaning systems, and force feedback actuators as further innovations of the vehicle domain “Chassis & Body” Smart connectivity between these Schaeffler technologies enhances comfort, convenience, safety, and driving dynamics
• At the 13th Schaeffler Automotive Symposium, the company showcases how the smart connectivity between these technologies enhances comfort, safety, and driving dynamics

The increasing complexity of modern vehicle architectures due to electrification, automation, and software means that new technologies for chassis and body are a vital area of innovation for the mobility transition. “With a view to the mobility transformation, there are huge market potentials for Schaeffler within the Chassis & Body domain. Our innovations take comfort, convenience, handling dynamics, and safety to a new level – and create an important building block for autonomous vehicle platforms,” says Matthias Zink, CEO Powertrain & Chassis at Schaeffler AG.

At the 13th Schaeffler Automotive Symposium to be held in Bühl in June, the Motion Technology Company will present its latest product solutions in the Chassis & Body technology cluster. With its consistent, system-based approach and fully integrated components developed in-house, Schaeffler satisfies the key requirements of its customers for modern vehicles across all types of powertrain. The goal is an intelligent integration of mechatronic solutions for a noticeably improved ride and user experience for everyone on board.

Intelligent sensor use
Schaeffler’s solutions benefit significantly from the process of sensor fusion: Data from various sensors in the vehicle are evaluated collectively and used to support reliable decision-making in all driving situations – e.g., to analyze comprehensive environmental data for active vehicle damping.

Thanks to the intelligent interconnection of electric motors, gearboxes, software solutions, and various sensors, Schaeffler ensures outstanding performance, precision, and safety in the vehicle. “For highly interconnected vehicle architectures to serve the mobility of the future, Schaeffler is already offering high-precision, reliable solutions thanks to its comprehensive and well-established sensor portfolio,” says divisional CEO Matthias Zink. “Our innovations enable precise control of acceleration, deceleration, and lateral guidance while maximizing comfort and convenience for vehicle occupants. They also support automated functions and monitoring systems for the vehicle interior and access.”

Chassis systems for improved steering and handling
In the chassis domain, the company presents modern electrical steering systems like rear-wheel steering and steer-by-wire solutions with force-feedback actuators, as well as new input devices, known as human-machine interfaces (HMI), for future vehicle architectures. These technologies improve maneuverability and smooth the way for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving functions. Other innovations include semi-active and active damping technologies that adjust to road and driving conditions in real time, ensuring an extremely comfortable ride and outstanding road holding. In combination with low-friction wheel bearings, they improve vehicle dynamics and ensure low energy consumption.

Innovations beyond steering
Outstanding solutions for the vehicle body include technologies for keyless vehicle entry, which enable seamless, automated vehicle access and combine convenience with modern security functions. Advanced sensor cleaning systems for autonomous driving ensure that safety-critical sensors function reliably thanks to clean sensor surfaces even under challenging environmental conditions. At the Schaeffler Automotive Symposium, the company will also showcase its newly developed high-performance braking systems, which meet new standards for overall safety, extended maintenance intervals, and reduced particulate emissions.

Innovations at the Schaeffler Automotive Symposium 2026
The Chassis & Body technology cluster is one of four thematic clusters at the Schaeffler Automotive Symposium 2026 in Bühl. This year, Schaeffler will present the company’s product innovations for the mobility sector at its largest customer event under the banner "Beyond Driving. Innovation made by Schaeffler".