In late 2023, Tesla announced that the Cybertruck would be the first vehicle ever to feature Steer by Wire (SbW) technology.
However, the first time that the Elon Musk-led company was rumoured to be working on the technology was earlier that year, after Tesla filed for a patent on the system.
The company started building a team focused on SbW three years earlier, in 2o20 — a new job listing revealed back then.
SbW eliminates the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels, replacing traditional linkages with electronic controls. The system enables lower delays and more precise control.
This Tuesday, the Chinese EV maker Nio said it helped establish China’s first national certification standard for steer-by-wire systems, marking a regulatory milestone for the advanced steering technology in the world’s largest EV market.
The Standardization Administration of China officially released GB17675-2025 “Automotive Steering Systems – Basic Requirements,” with Nio serving as one of the leading organizations in developing the framework, the company said on Weibo.
The Shanghai-based EV maker says it is China’s first brand to achieve mass production certification and deliveries of steer-by-wire vehicles.
“As one of the leading units, and also China’s first brand to pass announcement certification and achieve mass production delivery of steer-by-wire vehicles, Nio has provided practical support for the formulation of national standards,” the company said.
German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG has partnered with Nio since 2022 to equip the ET9 with its latest-generation steer-by-wire system, providing both the steering wheel actuator and redundant steering gear actuator with associated software.
The ET9’s steer-by-wire system received e-Mark certification under United Nations Economic Commission for Europe automotive regulations in May, marking the first Chinese vehicle to secure both domestic and European regulatory approval for the technology.
Nio announced in December 2024 that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had approved the ET9’s steer-by-wire technology for mass production, making it the country’s first production vehicle featuring the system.
The approval came after a review by industry experts organized by MIIT, with Nio completing development and testing in the absence of existing national standards.
BYD x Steer by Wire
BYD’s premium brand Denza showcased its own steer-by-wire technology in April at the Shanghai Auto Show, unveiling the Denza Z concept sports car with a folding steering wheel enabled by the electronic steering system.
However, the model has not (yet) entered production.
Nio ET9 Sales
Nio delivered 127 ET9 units in October, up 41.1% from 90 vehicles in September and the model’s strongest month since June, when deliveries reached 307 units.
November delivery figures from the China Passenger Car Association were not yet available as of Tuesday.
The Shanghai-based EV maker launched two new color themes for the ET9’s Horizon Edition at the Guangzhou Auto Show last month, two months after unveiling the edition in September.
