Schaeffler e-axle wins Golden Steering Wheel award

Schaeffler’s electric axle comes out on top in the Innovation of the Year category

Award-winning Schaeffler solution impresses with its ultra-high power density

Increasingly integrated electric axle systems offer scope for highly innovative solutions

Volume production orders across all powertrain types highlight success amid the transformation towards electro mobility

The automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has received the Golden Steering Wheel (“Goldenes Lenkrad”) award for its 2-in-1 electric axle system. Offered by German car magazine “AUTO BILD” and national newspaper “BILD am SONNTAG,” the award is one of Europe’s most coveted auto industry prizes. Schaeffler’s integrated axle system went up against a quality lineup of competitors to secure a majority of readers’ votes and the final jury decision and come out on top in the Innovation of the Year category. “We are very proud to have received this important accolade”, said Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive Technologies of Schaeffler. “We have been recognized once again for our pioneering spirit and successful commitment to e-mobility. Our innovative solutions make us a key partner in the transformation to an electrified, more sustainable future.”

Modular system caters to all customer requirements
The Schaeffler 2-in-one axle is an integrated system comprising a reduction gear and electric motor in a single compact unit. Its stand-out features include extremely high power density and exceptional acoustic performance. Thanks to its modular design, the system can accommodate a wide range of customer requirements and is suitable for a number of vehicle platforms, whether hybrid or fully electric. Following its launch on the Chinese market this year, this electric axle system is now also about to be deployed by a European auto maker. Schaeffler is constantly making its electric axle systems more integrated, delivering added scope for highly innovative solutions. For example, last year the company won several orders for complete 3-in-1 electric axles – systems that comprise power electronics as well as the electric motor and transmission.

Electro mobility success story
Schaeffler’s E-Mobility business division is at the forefront of the company’s initiatives to drive the electro mobility transformation forward. Set up in 2018, the division has already secured volume production orders across all levels of electrification, for both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Schaeffler anticipates that its E-Mobility business division will generate between 2 to 3 billion euros of new business annually from 2022 on. “I am very proud of my staff and would like to thank each and every one of them,” said Dr. Jochen Schröder, Schaeffler’s head of the business division E-Mobility. “Our electro mobility teams work with great passion and commitment to develop highly innovative solutions for tomorrow’s mobility – solutions that feature high levels of vertical integration, modularity and scalability. What sets us apart is our commitment to quality, our understanding of complex systems, and our superior expertise in production systems and technology. This means we are able to transition innovations into series production rapidly and cost-effectively while catering to individual customer requirements.”