China’s intelligent chassis accelerate into mass production as the old divisions in the global automotive supply chain begin to shift

When a Chery Exeed EX7 rolled off the production line in April 2026, the braking method at the wheels reflected a new approach: Zuobiaoxi Intelligent’s EMB entered mass production with the vehicle. EMB, or brake-by-wire, eliminates brake fluid and hydraulic lines and generates braking force directly through motors at the wheels. The technology has long been contested by giants such as Bosch, Continental and ZF, but it has now been brought to a mass-produced passenger vehicle by a Chinese company with annual revenue of around 20 million yuan.

Changes to chassis systems are now appearing in groups. The NIO ET9 has integrated steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering and full active suspension, while ZF’s steer-by-wire system eliminates the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. The Denza Z convertible features BYD’s fully self-developed steer-by-wire system, while the all-new Li Auto L9 Livis places steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, EMB and active suspension within the same chassis system. Braking controls longitudinal motion, steering controls lateral motion and suspension controls vertical movement. Three systems that were previously independent are beginning to work together through electronic signals and a chassis domain controller.

This explains why suppliers are moving beyond their traditional boundaries. Bethel Automotive has expanded from braking into electric power steering, steer-by-wire, air suspension and advanced driver-assistance systems; Baolong has moved from tire-pressure-monitoring sensors into air suspension; and GLB has progressed from integrated braking systems to EMB, air suspension and chassis domain controllers. A car may simply be avoiding an obstacle, but behind the scenes it could be calling on steering, braking and suspension simultaneously. Controlling only one component is making it increasingly difficult to determine how the vehicle ultimately “moves.”

China’s market provides another accelerator. According to Gasgoo Research Institute’s advanced driver-assistance-system fitment database, in the first half of 2026, Konghui Technology, Tuopu and Baolong together held 91.4% of China’s passenger-car air-suspension standard-equipment market. Air suspension was once found mainly on luxury models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. It is now being installed on more Chinese models, creating a cycle of orders, scale, cost reductions and further vehicle fitments, while building experience in matching, calibration, reliability and manufacturing consistency.

Specifically, automakers gain tighter whole-vehicle motion control, suppliers gain an opportunity to move from actuators to systems and domain control, and overseas customers see more than simply a lower quotation. However, technologies such as EMB and active suspension remain in the early stages of industrialization, and questions around reliability, cost and large-scale manufacturing have not been fully resolved. Bosch expects cumulative sales of brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire systems to exceed 7 billion euros by 2032. Meanwhile, an active rear-wheel-steering project led by ZF’s Chinese team has entered production in Zhangjiagang, with the company’s related capacity serving domestic and overseas markets.