EURO 7: Schaeffler starts series production of NOx sensors for gasoline vehicles in Europe

2026-10-08 | Bühl

• From the leading diesel variant to the new gasoline application: Schaeffler is transferring its many years of NOx expertise
• The NOx sensor enables accurate emissions monitoring and effective system control
• The start of series production strengthens Schaeffler’s position as a technology partner for low-emission, future-ready powertrain systems

Schaeffler has started series production of its NOx sensors for gasoline vehicles in Europe. In doing so, the Motion Technology Company is helping automakers comply with future emissions standards, such as EURO 7. “The start of production of our NOx sensors contributes to one of Schaeffler’s fundamental goals: delivering reduced emissions regardless of powertrain type,” said Matthias Zink, CEO Powertrain & Chassis at Schaeffler AG. “We also see sensor technology as a strategic growth opportunity and are systematically expanding our capabilities in this area. In this case, the goal is to offer vehicle manufacturers precise, intelligent, and scalable solutions for efficient and reliable emissions control.”

EURO 7 increases the need for precise emissions control
EURO 7 significantly tightens the requirements for vehicle emissions control. The new emissions standard addresses not only compliance with limit values during testing, but also real-world emissions during driving, the durability of vehicle systems, and their performance over the vehicle’s entire life cycle. For vehicle manufacturers, this means that the engine and the exhaust after-treatment systems must work together reliably and precisely under a wide variety of operating conditions.

“Our NOx sensors provide the necessary transparency around exhaust lines and help our customers design their systems for precision and future-proofness,” said Leif Reinhold, Head of the Powertrain Solutions Business Division at Schaeffler. “The NOx sensor for gasoline vehicles is based on the technology used in our successful diesel version, which has established a leading position in the market. We are thus applying our proven technological capabilities to another key area and creating a solid foundation for meeting the requirements of future emissions standards.”

NOx sensor provides direct, real-time feedback
Designed to meet the demands of real-world driving conditions, the NOx sensor ensures reliable operation throughout the vehicle’s entire life cycle. It continuously measures the amount of nitrogen oxide actually emitted from the vehicle. The sensor generates an electronic signal that correlates with the nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust gas. It also generates a lambda signal that indicates the oxygen content in the exhaust gas. The combination of these two parameters allows for precise assessment of exhaust gas composition and reliable emissions monitoring over extended periods.

In addition, the sensor signal can be used to control exhaust after-treatment. This allows the system to respond immediately to changes and precisely control emissions under a variety of operating conditions. Depending on the system architecture, this can both reduce the required catalytic converter size and precious metal content and eliminate the need for additional lambda sensors. In this way, the NOx sensor helps reduce the complexity of the overall system.