MotionIQ Software Suite: Precision, Speed and Quality for Software-Defined Chassis Development

The emergence of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and by-wire technologies, such as steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire and rear-wheel steering, are reshaping the future of mobility – where software is not just an enabler, but the core driver of vehicle innovation and value. This shift isn’t just a trend. It’s a revolution and it’s rewriting the rules of who controls innovation.

This transition has fueled a fundamental shift in how OEMs, suppliers and technology companies co-develop and integrate new features. OEMs want greater ownership of software that differentiates their brands, such as steering feel, to compete on speed-to-market, pricing and user experience in today’s dynamic and increasingly competitive global market.

With these challenges in mind, Nexteer has developed its new MotionIQ™ software suite. Engineered on proven algorithms deployed in over 115 million vehicles globally, MotionIQ delivers intelligent motion control software for safer, more superior driving experiences while also giving OEMs the tools to design, integrate and test their own steering and chassis functions. This gives OEMs the power and flexibility to innovate faster and smarter than ever before without compromising safety or quality.

The suite is comprised of three product groups, MotionIQ/Control™, MotionIQ/Dev™ and MotionIQ/Health™, that seamlessly work together to deliver advanced vehicle dynamics functions, software tools and expertise, and data-driven predictive maintenance – all critical to help our OEM customers move faster, reduce costs and enhance the driving experience.

MotionIQ/Control™: Enhanced Safety, Elevated Performance
MotionIQ/Control™ delivers advanced vehicle dynamics functions for enhanced safety, performance and comfort. Working in tandem with our Steer-by-Wire technology, these functions help OEMs introduce customized and dynamic driving experiences, enabling them to differentiate their brands while standardizing steering hardware for reduced complexity. Some of these advanced vehicle dynamics functions include:

• Steer-by-Brake – Uses the vehicle’s brakes to steer and control its speed, enabling safety redundancies without additional hardware.
• Hands-Off Detection – Alerts drivers when their hands are off the wheel for too long in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)-equipped vehicles.
• Quiet Wheel™ Steering – Keeps the steering wheel motionless during autonomous maneuvers, eliminating the potential distraction of a fast-rotating steering wheel.
• Road Surface Detection – Captures real-time road friction data via virtual sensors, providing key inputs for traction and stability systems.

MotionIQ/Dev™: Faster, Flexible Development
MotionIQ/Dev™ gives OEMs the tools to bring their own software features to life. Backed by Nexteer’s systems integration and software development expertise, as well as our flexible development approach, we enable OEMs to design and integrate their own steering and chassis control features in-house while adhering to industry standards and best practices to ensure seamless compatibility, performance and safety.

At the heart of MotionIQ/Dev™ is our model-based development tool, which uses automated coding and integration to accelerate feature development from days to minutes. Features can be modified on-the-fly and flashed to designated hardware (domain control unit, actuator, etc.), enabling real-time updates during vehicle testing – all in a no-code, modeling-based environment. This helps OEMs cut costs, reduce lead times and minimize time spent on error-prone manual coding.

We offer two distinct approaches for developing OEM-specific steering and chassis features: Nexteer-led development tailored to OEM requirements, or OEM in-house development supported by Nexteer’s systems integration expertise every step of the way. This is the latest way we’re delivering end-to-end software development, integration, validation and more to drive efficiencies and speed-to-market.

MotionIQ/Health™: Data-Driven Predictive Maintenance
MotionIQ/Health™ uses Nexteer’s Prognostics software and AI-powered virtual sensors to monitor the health of steering and other chassis systems, as well as tires. The software continuously monitors electrical and mechanical performance under actual driving conditions throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle. This helps predict issues before they occur, allowing for convenient maintenance scheduling and reduced diagnostic time and costs. Our Tire Health and Tire Parameter Detection software uses smart tire virtual sensors to monitor the tire condition automatically with no additional hardware required.

Anonymized data from these systems also provides insights into product quality and development for OEMs and suppliers from real-life lifecycle conditions.

Strategic Partner to Support SDV Transition
With the shift toward SDVs and centralized vehicle electrical architectures, OEMs are under pressure to innovate quickly while keeping costs low. Advanced software-enabled technologies, such as by-wire technologies and EPS, allow OEMs to program component software to feel different across various vehicles, such as a luxury SUV, pickup truck or sports car while using standardized hardware. At the same time, software tools from MotionIQ enable engineers to make real-time updates during vehicle testing, speeding up feature development and giving OEMs greater control and ownership over the process.

Finally, our virtual engineering capabilities reduce costs for customers by enabling system-level software verification much earlier in the development cycle, allowing for testing and issue detection before hardware or physical prototypes are available.

In a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive automotive landscape, seamless collaboration and flexibility with suppliers is essential. Nexteer is ready for the moment with MotionIQ, giving OEMs the tools to innovate, differentiate and deliver the experiences today’s drivers expect. Together with our customers, we are ready to revolutionize the future of by-wire control and software-defined chassis development.