ZF Unveils AI-Driven Chassis Software to Enhance Safety Comfort and Personalization

With AI Road Sense, ZF takes vehicle safety and comfort to a new level: The AI-powered system detects road conditions and driving behavior in real time, enabling predictive and adaptive chassis control.

(IN BRIEF) ZF has unveiled new software innovations at CES that advance its Chassis 2.0 strategy and support the evolution of the software-defined vehicle. AI Road Sense uses artificial intelligence and sensor fusion to predict road conditions and adapt chassis behavior in real time, improving safety, comfort, and driver confidence. Active Noise Reduction applies software-controlled actuators to significantly reduce tire noise inside the vehicle without added hardware. Together with ZF’s cubiX software, these solutions demonstrate how intelligent software and AI are transforming the chassis into a digitally controlled system that enables personalized, brand-specific driving experiences and future-ready mobility.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, 6-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — ZF is accelerating the shift toward software-defined vehicles by combining its long-standing hardware expertise with advanced software and artificial intelligence to deliver adaptive, future-ready mobility solutions. At CES in Las Vegas, the company introduced two new software innovations under its Chassis 2.0 strategy: AI Road Sense and Active Noise Reduction, both designed to enhance safety, comfort, and brand-specific driving experiences.

Building on by-wire technologies such as steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire, ZF is transforming the vehicle chassis into a digitally controlled system capable of real-time adaptation. The Chassis 2.0 approach integrates intelligent hardware, AI-driven software, and predictive control to enable new functionalities and a higher degree of personalization for automakers and drivers alike.

ZF’s new Active Noise Reduction software, powered by next-generation smart chassis sensors and advanced damper control, significantly reduces in-vehicle tire noise—without the need for extra noise-dampening hardware.

AI Road Sense represents a significant step forward in predictive chassis control. The software uses a combination of sensors and data sources to anticipate road surface conditions and adjust vehicle dynamics accordingly. Whether driving on snow-covered roads, uneven off-road terrain, or transitioning between different pavement types, the system continuously adapts the chassis to maintain stability, comfort, and driver confidence. Data collected by sensors is processed through ZF’s cubiX chassis software, which coordinates smart actuators such as Continuous Damping Control and the active damping system sMOTION, capable of reacting within one millisecond.

Future integrations are planned to include steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems, further expanding the software’s ability to manage vehicle behavior. According to Peter Holdmann, Member of the Board of Management and Head of Chassis Solutions at ZF, AI Road Sense reacts faster than human reflexes, reducing uncertainty for drivers and ensuring predictable vehicle responses even in challenging conditions.

The scalable AI Road Sense platform is offered in three configurations. The Standard version uses CAN bus signals to identify road types, while the Advanced version adds camera-based predictive surface analysis. The Premium configuration incorporates LiDAR technology, generating a detailed 3D profile of the road up to 25 meters ahead with centimeter-level precision, enabling highly accurate chassis adjustments before the vehicle reaches the surface.

With Chassis 2.0, ZF combines hardware expertise, advanced software, and artificial intelligence to make vehicles software-defined, updatable, and future-ready — the foundation for tomorrow’s mobility.

ZF’s system-level expertise allows AI Road Sense to combine camera data with chassis signals such as wheel slip and torque changes. This integrated approach enables the software to distinguish between varying surface conditions, such as deep versus shallow snow, and automatically select the appropriate driving strategy. Features such as automatic torque reduction on slippery surfaces or optimized all-wheel-drive engagement in off-road conditions operate seamlessly in the background, without requiring driver input.

In addition to predictive road sensing, ZF introduced Active Noise Reduction, a software-based solution aimed at significantly lowering tire-related noise inside the vehicle. Rather than relying on additional insulation or damping materials, the system uses smart chassis sensors and semi-active dampers controlled by cubiX software to counteract vibrations that generate cabin noise. Initial implementations achieve noise reductions of up to 3 dB, with future developments targeting reductions of up to 10 dB. The technology is scheduled to enter series production in 2028 and can be applied across multiple vehicle segments.

Together, AI Road Sense, Active Noise Reduction, and ZF’s cubiX software form the foundation of a digitally controlled chassis architecture already in use today. ZF positions these technologies as key enablers of the software-defined vehicle, supporting automated driving, connected systems, and increasingly personalized driving experiences.

By extending software-based control across its mechatronic actuators, ZF aims to help automakers define the digital DNA of their vehicles, delivering intelligent, connected, and adaptable mobility solutions for the next generation of transportation.

About ZF

ZF is a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. Its comprehensive product range is primarily aimed at vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions, protecting the climate as well as enhancing safe mobility. Alongside the automotive sector – passenger cars and commercial vehicles – ZF also serves market segments such as construction and agricultural machinery, wind power, marine propulsion, rail drives and test systems.

With some 161,600 employees worldwide, ZF reported sales of €41.4 billion in fiscal 2024. The company operates 161 production locations in 30 countries.

For further press information and photos, please visit: www.zf.com

Media Contacts:

Martin Ehrenfeuchter
Spokesperson Chassis Technology and Electric Mobility
Phone: +49 7541 77-963248
email: martin.ehrenfeuchter@zf.com

Matt Charboneau
Regional Corporate and Marketing Communications
Phone: (313) 920-9056
email: matthew.charboneau@zf.com

SOURCE: ZF