Wabco, Nexteer Sign Long-Term Cooperation Agreement
Wabco Holdings Inc. signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Nexteer Automotive, a provider of intuitive motion control, as it prepares for the advent of self-driving commercial vehicles, according to the company.
Wabco did not disclose the length of the agreement.
The two companies will develop and supply active steering systems for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles using Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Nexteer’s MagnaSteer actuation technology, a “breakthrough product in advanced steering assistance,” according to Brussels-based Wabco.
Wabco will integrate MagnaSteer with a suite of power steering gears manufactured by RH Sheppard Co. Inc., a company Wabco recently agreed to acquire, and that already had an existing exclusivity agreement with Nexteer, according to Wabco.
In addition, Wabco has exclusive access to this technology for all medium- and heavy-duty commercial truck markets outside North America, except in China, according to the company.
“We have a clear line of sight on the fundamental technologies, such as active steering, active braking, electronic stability control and other advanced driver assistance systems, which will enable significant intermediary steps on our industry’s path to realize fully autonomous driving,” Jorge Solis, Wabco president, truck, bus and car original equipment manufacturers division, said in a statement.
