Schaeffler and Sonatus have announced a global partnership to integrate Edge AI into motion control solutions for software-defined vehicles. The collaboration combines Schaeffler's control units with Sonatus's AI-driven software, enabling intelligence directly at the vehicle edge. The joint solution integrates Sonatus Collector AI and Sonatus AI Director into Schaeffler's control units, allowing automakers to run and continuously improve key vehicle functions such as steering, braking and energy management without hardware changes. Sonatus's technology is already deployed in over 8 million vehicles. Schaeffler contributes cross-domain control units and system integration expertise across powertrain, energy, chassis and body domains. The partnership aims to reduce complexity, accelerate development cycles and enable continuous improvement throughout vehicle lifecycles for original equipment manufacturers.

Michelin and Sonatus develop digital twin for tyre health monitoring. Michelin has teamed up with Sonatus, a specialist in intelligence-driven software-defined vehicle technology, to develop a predictive tyre health and maintenance system. The project partners intend to show the latest developments at CES 2026 in Las Vegas (6-9 January), where they will demonstrate how Michelin's SmartLoad and SmartWear technologies, deployed via Sonatus' AI Director, can deliver real-time insights into tyre performance directly within the vehicle. Some conventional tyre monitoring systems rely on pressure sensors or mileage-based estimates, which do not capture inputs such as braking intensity, vehicle load, cornering forces and other dynamic conditions that exert forces on tyres. However, Michelin's SmartLoad and SmartWear models analyse these high-frequency vehicle signals to provide continuous, accurate insights into the actual health of a vehicle's tyres, enabling fleets and drivers to optimise tyre usage, improve safety, and reduce operational costs. Michelin believes that software-based tyre monitoring has the potential to replace legacy sensor hardware and its associated costs, effectively virtualising the sensors and reducing the bill of materials (BOM), which the analyst firm Frost & Sullivan estimates could contribute to cost savings of US$1.68 billion by 2030. Michelin has applied its expertise in tyre physics, modelling and data, and combined it with Sonatus's advanced in-vehicle AI orchestration, and will demonstrate to CES attendees how the Michelin Tire Digital Twin, used for predictive maintenance, can be brought into operations at scale. Sonatus' Collector AI system enables Michelin to calibrate its algorithms for new automakers, while Sonatus AI Director can provide secure, containerised deployment across a broad range of electronic control units (ECUs). Together, these technologies allow Michelin's proprietary models to run at the edge, in the vehicle, to reduce reliance on the Cloud and protect sensitive data. At CES 2026, Michelin will show the capabilities of its predictive tyre intelligence systems through a dynamic demonstration around a 1970 Ford Bronco retrofitted with Sonatus technology. Visitors will be shown how SmartLoad and SmartWear enable real-time insights and see, via Michelin's MyTires application, how these models transform raw vehicle data into actionable insights. Visit the Sonatus booth (#5439) at CES 2026 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from 6-9 January to see for yourself.

How AI is revolutionising Nissan vehicle testing in two days instead of two weeks. The automotive industry is witnessing a seismic shift in how vehicles are developed and tested. In a groundbreaking partnership that could reshape the future of car manufacturing, Nissan Technical Centre Europe has joined forces with California-based tech innovator Sonatus to slash vehicle testing times by an astonishing 85%. For decades, vehicle development has been a painstakingly slow process. Engineers would spend weeks, sometimes months, troubleshooting issues with physical test vehicles, burning through resources and delaying launches. But those days are rapidly becoming history. Thanks to artificial intelligence, what once took two weeks can now be accomplished in just two days. At the heart of this transformation lies Sonatus' cutting-edge AI toolkit, specifically their Collector AI and AI Technician platforms. These aren't just fancy dashboards displaying data; they're sophisticated systems that actively hunt for problems before they become catastrophic failures. The technology works by harvesting vast amounts of information from vehicle sensors, electronic control units (ECUs), and onboard diagnostics tools. But here's where it gets interesting: the AI doesn't just collect data, it thinks. It automatically detects irregularities, potential failures, and operational inefficiencies that human engineers might miss or take weeks to identify. Imagine having a tireless digital detective working 24/7, analyzing thousands of data points per second, spotting patterns that would escape even the most experienced automotive engineer. That's exactly what Nissan's engineers at their Cranfield, UK facility now have at their fingertips. The early trial results are nothing short of spectacular. NTCE has demonstrated significant improvements in troubleshooting efficiency, dramatically reducing their reliance on physical test vehicles. The reduction in investigation time from two weeks to two days is transformative. This acceleration fits perfectly into Nissan's broader strategic vision. The partnership directly supports RE:Nissan, the company's global recovery plan that emphasizes innovation through a digital-first approach. By leveraging simulation, advanced testing, and smart data analysis, Nissan is fundamentally reducing overall development time. David Moss, Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Nissan's AMIEO region, made a crucial point about the technology's role: "The role of AI is clear, to act as a tool for our engineers and not a direct replacement". This human-AI collaboration model is essential, the AI augments human expertise rather than replacing it, allowing engineers to investigate and act quickly while maintaining zero compromise on quality. This isn't experimental technology sitting in a lab somewhere. The AI tools are becoming a cornerstone of Nissan's entire testing program, with immediate applications for highly anticipated future models including the all-new Nissan LEAF and the popular JUKE. For Kiwi drivers eagerly awaiting these next-generation vehicles, this means something tangible: faster time-to-market without sacrificing the reliability and safety standards Tarmac Life Ltd. has come to expect from Japanese engineering. Alexandre Corjon, Senior Vice President and Technical Fellow for Sonatus, emphasized that this collaboration reflects "a shared commitment to an AI-driven future". Founded in 2018, Sonatus has quickly established itself as a powerhouse in software-defined vehicle technology, with their solutions already deployed in over 6 million production vehicles from leading global automakers. The company's global footprint - spanning from their Sunnyvale, California headquarters to regional offices in Dublin, and locations across Bangalore, Detroit, Frankfurt, Kraków, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo - demonstrates the truly international nature of modern automotive innovation. Tarmac takeaway. This partnership represents a fundamental reimagining of how vehicles are developed. By enabling smarter data collection and accelerating digital development workflows, the collaboration sets a new benchmark for automotive innovation. The implications extend beyond Nissan. As the automotive sector faces unprecedented pressure to accelerate electrification, improve sustainability, and meet evolving consumer expectations, AI-driven development processes could become the industry standard rather than the exception.