Nexteer Automotive has introduced a new High Mount Direct Drive Steer-by-Wire (SbW) Hand-Wheel Actuator, known as HMDD, designed to give automakers greater cockpit design freedom as vehicle architectures shift toward software-defined vehicles. The compact actuator combines a high-mount motor, direct-drive responsiveness and a stationary hub to deliver premium steering feel and scalable integration.

HMDD joins Nexteer’s actuator portfolio alongside a low-mount option under the dash, giving OEMs a choice of architecture for their cockpit design. Its stationary hub opens up center-hub control and display concepts, stowable steering interfaces, and simplified airbag integration, removing the need for a symmetrically designed driver airbag.

Nexteer says the design can cut mass by up to 23% versus legacy column-based architectures, and supports combustion, hybrid and electric platforms across 12V and 48V systems and left- and right-hand-drive configurations. HMDD sits within Nexteer’s wider Motion-by-Wire chassis strategy, spanning steering, braking and rear-wheel steering.

In a statement, Michael Hales, Executive Director, Research and Development at Nexteer Automotive, said: “Nexteer’s HMDD gives OEMs a new way to rethink the cockpit and driver experience while enhancing the steering feel, packaging flexibility and safety-critical performance.” HMDD was recently named a finalist for the 2026 Automotive News PACE Pilot Award, recognising it as a pre-commercial innovation.

Source: Nexteer