Aumovio's Dennis Fritsch: Braking innovations are key to safety
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In this episode of Shift, host Molly Boygon explores the future of automotive safety and mobility with Dennis Fritsch, Vice President of Safety and Motion at Aumovio, the technology spinoff from Continental. The conversation centers on Aumovio's groundbreaking dry brake-by-wire systems—fully electronic brakes that eliminate hydraulic fluid, offering improved stopping distances, reduced maintenance, and greater design flexibility. Fritsch explains that while full dry brake systems are expected to enter low-volume production in 2027–2028, semi-dry systems (electronic rear brakes with hydraulic front brakes) are already being tested by a European commercial vehicle OEM. These innovations are especially suited for electric vehicles due to their centralized, software-defined architecture. The discussion then expands to Aumovio’s vision of 'corner modules'—integrated units combining in-wheel motors, brakes, steering, suspension, and damping in each wheel corner—enabling plug-and-play vehicle design and radical interior reimagining. Fritsch emphasizes that this shift isn’t competition with OEMs but a deeper partnership, especially as automakers take on more software responsibility. The episode also touches on global development trends, noting that Chinese automakers are advancing faster due to digitalization, virtual testing, and modular design, while Western OEMs are catching up. Finally, the show contrasts Tesla’s struggles with robotaxi deployment—hampered by its camera-only approach—against Zoox’s faster rollout using multi-sensor fusion, including LiDAR.
Dry brake-by-wire systems eliminate hydraulics, reducing weight, maintenance, and enabling scalable vehicle architecture with production expected from 2027–2028.
Semi-dry brake systems (electronic rear, hydraulic front) offer redundancy and are ideal for commercial vehicles, with a European OEM already piloting the tech.
Aumovio’s corner modules integrate motors, brakes, steering, and suspension into each wheel, enabling plug-and-play vehicle design and new interior possibilities.
The shift to software-defined vehicles demands deeper supplier-OEM partnerships, not competition, especially as OEMs take on more software responsibility.
Chinese automakers are leading in product development speed due to digitalization, virtual testing, and modular design, forcing global OEMs to accelerate.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Introduction to the Episode and Guest
Molly Boygon introduces the episode and guest, Dennis Fritsch of Aumovio, setting the stage for a deep dive into braking innovations and the future of vehicle architecture.
Robo-Taxi Deployment: Zoox vs. Tesla
“Zoox has kind of passed them there on the little robo-taxi highway.”
EV Adoption Challenges and Hybrid Appeal
“I think that's still kind of going to be difficult. Yeah, that makes sense. For some drivers, it's still such a tough sell and a hybrid offers that bridge solution.”
Dry Brake-by-Wire: The Future of Braking
“We are seeing advantages when it comes to braking distance, stopping distance. Here we are talking about meters, what we can achieve with these new technologies.”
Corner Modules and the Next Evolution of Vehicle Design
“The vision is plug and play. And again, allowing also entirely new interior designs or concepts of a car, like how passengers are seated, how passengers are finally using their car.”
“The vision is plug and play. And again, allowing also entirely new interior designs or concepts of a car, like how passengers are seated, how passengers are finally using their car.”
“We are seeing advantages when it comes to braking distance, stopping distance. Here we are talking about meters, what we can achieve with these new technologies.”
“We don't have an engine or motor in the middle of the vehicle. We don't have a transmission.”
Host
Guest
Aumovio
organization
Dennis Fritsch
person
Tesla
organization
Zoox
organization
China
place
LiDAR
other
Continental
organization
Elon Musk
person
Sweden
place
Waymo
organization
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