NO MORE PROVING GROUNDS? THE NEW WAY TO DEVELOP CARS

EV Channels Review

This episode of Autoline After Hours delves into the evolving landscape of automotive development, featuring ZF's innovative 'Cubix' system. The core of the discussion revolves around how Cubix enables engineers to tune chassis, steering, and braking parameters using a laptop, drastically reducing the time and cost associated with traditional proving ground methods. Oliver Spiess of ZF highlights the system's ability to adapt to various vehicle architectures, including those with electronically controlled components, and its potential to compensate for actuator failures in real-time. The panel also touches upon the significant cost advantages held by Chinese automakers and how ZF's technology aims to help Western manufacturers compete. A secondary but crucial topic is the steel industry's response to the rise of aluminum gigacastings, with the steel sector innovating new alloys and processes to maintain its market share. While gigacastings offer part consolidation, the steel industry emphasizes its established infrastructure and potential for cost-effective integration, setting the stage for a competitive future in vehicle manufacturing.