DTM Champion Bruno Spengler Joins Arnold NextG as Development Driver and Brand Ambassador

Pfronstetten-Aichelau, 3 December 2024 - Arnold NextG, a pioneer in the development of fully autonomous vehicle technologies, is strengthening its team with a prominent new addition: Bruno Spengler (41). The 2012 DTM Champion and multiple DTM runner-up will contribute his many years of motorsport experience to the development of the groundbreaking steer-by-wire technology. In addition to his role as brand ambassador, Spengler will work as a development driver on one of the biggest technological revolutions in automotive engineering: the transition from conventional steering systems to a fully electronic steering system based on the steer-by-wire principle, which is regarded as a key technology for Level 5 autonomous driving.

But what exactly happens when a motorsport professional like Bruno Spengler tests the limits of new steering technologies? The Nürburgring, one of the most demanding racetracks in the world, serves not only as a test track but also as a high-tech data laboratory. When Spengler drives an Arnold NextG technology carrier into the infamous Goodyear bend, brakes from over 250 km/h to under 70 km/h, turns precisely and stabilises the vehicle in the Schumacher-S turn with a fine foot on the accelerator, he is not alone: invisible 'spies' - sensors - accompany his every move.

These sensors are high-precision measuring devices that record over 200 parameters in real time - including steering angle, lateral acceleration, brake pressure, speed and accelerator pedal position. The collected data is transmitted to Arnold NextG's central data pool, where it serves as the basis for further development of steer-by-wire technology.

Steer-by-wire: a milestone in vehicle control

Since the invention of the automobile by Carl Benz in 1886, the steering column has been a central component of every vehicle. Arnold NextG breaks with this principle and favours its innovative steer-by-wire technology. Steer-by-wire technology replaces the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels with full digital control - via a single cable. This offers a number of key benefits:

• New interior concepts: Interiors can be redesigned without a fixed steering column.
• Greater safety, flexibility and precision: Faster reactions, for example by parameterising the steering angle or eliminating mechanical weak points such as wear.
• Basis for autonomous driving: Steer-by-wire is essential for Level 5 autonomy, where human intervention is no longer required.

“Our steer-by-wire technology is truly revolutionary,” says Kevin Arnold (24), founder and CEO of Arnold NextG. “With this innovation, we are breaking a 138-year-old mechanical dependency and paving the way for fully autonomous mobility. Bruno Spengler's experience will help us bring this technology to market for the entire automotive industry.”

Bruno Spengler: From the racetrack to the mobility revolution

For Spengler, this balancing act between man and machine is a new challenge: "The interplay between precision and control is just as crucial here as it is in racing. But now it's not just about finding the fastest way to the finish line, it's about a technology that will revolutionise mobility in the future.”

With Bruno Spengler on board, the company has over 20 years of motorsport experience and therefore the perfect expertise for accelerated and targeted development. “Working at Arnold NextG gives me the opportunity to take my passion for technology and innovation to a new level,” says Spengler. ”Steer-by-wire is the key to rethinking mobility.”

With this seasoned professional, Arnold NextG is sending a clear signal: motorsport experience meets technological innovation to make the vision of autonomous driving a reality. In addition to his technical role, Spengler will act as a brand ambassador for Arnold NextG, representing the company's vision at international trade shows and conferences.

About Arnold NextG GmbH

Arnold NextG is shaping the Safety-by-Wire® technology of tomorrow. The globally unique and multi-redundant central control unit NX NextMotion enables fail-safe and customized implementation, independent of vehicle platforms. This system supports the secure deployment of autonomous vehicle concepts according to the latest hardware, software, and safety standards, including solutions for remote operations, teleoperation, and platooning.
As an independent developer, incubator, and system supplier, Arnold NextG manages everything from initial vision to road approval. With the road certification of NX NextMotion, the company sets the global standard for Drive-by-Wire technology.