Schaeffler Partners With Sonatus on Edge AI for Vehicle Controllers

German automotive supplier Schaeffler is evolving from a traditional Tier 1 supplier into a “Tier 0.5” player deeply involved in integrating vehicle hardware and software. It is partnering with software-defined vehicle technology company Sonatus to bring AI into in-vehicle controllers, reducing the latency and cost of sending data to the cloud and enabling faster iterations of powertrain, chassis and body systems.

The companies recently announced a strategic partnership under which AI models will run directly on powertrain, chassis or body controllers. The technology will support efficient data collection, real-time diagnostics and feature updates, shortening vehicle feature development cycles. Schaeffler and Sonatus have not disclosed the date the agreement was signed, the investment amount, the mass-production timetable or the first vehicle models to adopt the technology.