Gasgoo Munich-On September 11, 2026, Schaeffler held a ceremony at its Xiangtan plant to mark the production of its 100,000th rear-wheel steering (RWS) system for its China business region. The milestone represents continued progress in Schaeffler’s RWS business, from technology development and mass production to scaled deliveries, and highlights the company’s capabilities in intelligent chassis and steer-by-wire technologies.
“The production of our 100,000th rear-wheel steering system marks a new stage in the large-scale application of Schaeffler’s intelligent chassis technologies and demonstrates our capabilities in precision mechanics, system integration and localized manufacturing,” said Wang Shuyuan, head of the Steering Business Unit within Schaeffler Greater China’s Powertrain and Chassis business.
Schaeffler will continue to develop key technologies including rear-wheel steering, while further improving product performance and delivery capabilities to provide customers with intelligent chassis solutions focused on safety and reliability, Wang added.
As vehicle electrification and intelligentization accelerate, rear-wheel steering systems are expanding beyond high-end models into broader market applications. The technology can improve vehicle handling, stability and maneuverability.
As a technology company focused on drive technologies, Schaeffler was among the first companies in China to achieve mass production of rear-wheel steering systems. The company says 100% of the system’s core components are manufactured in-house.
The system uses a self-developed planetary roller screw mechanism designed for high precision, long service life and high load capacity, enabling stable and efficient transmission of steering torque across a range of driving conditions.
At high speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, helping improve vehicle stability, steering precision and driver confidence.
At low speeds, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels, improving maneuverability. The system supports a maximum rear-wheel steering angle of ±12°, which can reduce the vehicle’s turning radius by up to 20%,with the reduction exceeding 1 meter, according to Schaeffler.
Image source: Schaeffler
Since beginning production of its rear-wheel steering systems in 2022, Schaeffler has continued to advance localized R&D, optimize manufacturing processes and strengthen global coordination to improve its delivery capabilities. In 2026, Schaeffler supported three new customers and seven vehicle models in entering volume production, according to the company, marking further progress toward large-scale deployment of rear-wheel steering systems.
Going forward, Schaeffler plans to further increase RWS production capacity, optimize manufacturing processes and advance product technology. The company expects annual production to ramp up to 1 million units by the end of 2028.
Schaeffler said it will continue to focus on customer needs, technology innovation and operational efficiency as it develops intelligent chassis solutions, supporting the continued development of intelligent mobility.
