With vehicles fast becoming software-enabled and cloud-connected devices, the OEMs demand more software-enabled steering features and other software-centric motion control applications. To support the growing requirements, Nexteer Automotive is enhancing its global Software Engineering organisation to meet the ever-expanding software needs of its global OEM customer base.
Accordingly, the new initiative creates a single strategic software team across four global locations within Nexteer, including the Global Technical Center in Saginaw, MI, Regional Technical Centers in Tychy, Poland and Suzhou, China and the Software Center in Bengaluru, India. Previously, software engineering expertise was dispersed among various teams throughout the company and reported separately through product lines and R&D.
The newly formed team reports directly to the company's chief technology officer. Nexteer's centralised software team will support Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems and advanced steering feature development. In addition, the new structure will also support software-related R&D projects, including software solutions that could be cloud-based or reside within a centralised chassis domain controller.
R&D
Nexteer's new software engineering structure aligns with R&D collaborations on two fronts with CNXMotion and Tactile Mobility.
The company is developing motion control solutions with CNXMotion, the company's joint venture with Continental. In addition, it is exploring advanced steering safety features such as real-time road surface detection in collaboration with Tactile Mobility, a leading tactile virtual sensing and data company based in Israel.
The company expects the optimised organisational structure to accelerate innovation-to-production timelines; capitalise on exponential growth in software-enabled motion control solutions; enhance global collaboration within Nexteer and its external partners; enhance customer service, OEM technical consultation, software development and support and maximise Nexteer's software value proposition.
Robin Milavec, Senior Vice President, Executive Board Director, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, Nexteer Automotive, said, 'Nexteer's new Software Engineering structure will accelerate Nexteer's innovation-to-production timeline as we draw tighter connections between our software teams, from early innovation to pursuit and on to launch readiness. This new structure positions us to meet expanding software demands, shorten lead times, maximise our value proposition and capitalise on emerging software product opportunities.'
NB: Photo is representational.