Moskvich may get a Steer-by-wire steering system – without a traditional mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. For now, it's not about a ready-made system or a specific model. The parties have only agreed to jointly define the technical requirements and parameters of the future complex, as well as to work out its integration into Moskvich cars.
Chinese Hangzhou Shibao is expected to act as the supplier of the Steer-by-wire system and participate in its technical adaptation for Russian cars. Moskvich is expected to provide the necessary technical specifications, design documentation, and information about the enterprise's production capabilities.
Kama will be the technological partner of the project. Atom specialists will participate in the development, calibration, and preparation of the system for certification. To coordinate the work, the companies will create a joint working group. Steer-by-wire was initially incorporated into the design of the Atom electric car. However, production cars still use traditional steering.
Now, the competencies accumulated during the development of Atom may be useful for another brand. At the same time, the project with Moskvich is at an early stage: specific models, implementation timelines, and characteristics of the future system have not yet been disclosed.
In a conventional car, the steering wheel is mechanically connected to the steering mechanism and the steered wheels. In a Steer-by-wire system, there is no such direct connection: turning the steering wheel is converted into an electronic signal, which is transmitted to the actuators on the wheels.
This allows for much greater freedom in adjusting steering characteristics and closer integration with other electronic systems of the car. For example, electronics can change the gear ratio depending on speed or independently adjust the wheel angle.