Stoneridge has shared additional details on its new EVO ECU (electronic control unit) Platform, which will debut at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, Germany, running September 14-20. The platform is designed to address the growing complexity of commercial vehicle electronics, offering a flexible, high-performance control system meant to help manufacturers reduce system complexity while enabling more advanced connectivity, diagnostics, and future software-driven features.
Christian Leblanc, global vice president of product and project management at Stoneridge, said commercial vehicles are becoming increasingly connected and intelligent, but that traditional vehicle electronics architectures weren't built to keep pace with today's rate of innovation. He said EVO offers a scalable platform that simplifies integration, improves vehicle performance, and gives customers flexibility to adapt as technology continues to change.
Traditional vehicle architectures typically rely on numerous separate electronic control units scattered throughout a vehicle, each handling a specific function. EVO instead consolidates processing into a single centralized platform built specifically around the needs of commercial vehicles, which Stoneridge says allows for faster software updates, more efficient diagnostics, and the ability to add new features without needing major hardware changes. For fleet operators specifically, the platform is intended to improve uptime and reduce maintenance complexity through better diagnostics, remote software updates, and greater vehicle intelligence overall. Leblanc said fleet customers were central to the platform's development, and that EVO is meant to enable faster troubleshooting, fewer service interruptions, and the ability to keep improving vehicle capabilities throughout its operational life.
Software modularity and cybersecurity were core considerations during EVO's development. Working with Green Hills Software, Stoneridge built a scalable software architecture that lets new features be added while keeping safety-critical functions isolated from the rest of the system. The platform is also built to handle the demanding physical conditions commercial vehicles typically operate in, including extreme temperatures, vibration, dust, and continuous use, and its rugged, automotive-grade design is intended to support a range of vehicle types, including buses, coaches, and off-highway equipment. Leblanc said commercial vehicles operate in some of the toughest environments around, and that EVO was built from the ground up specifically to deliver the reliability, performance, and flexibility customers need in those conditions.
The platform's scalable design also leaves room for additional processing power and connectivity to support emerging technologies, such as advanced driver assistance systems, added camera functionality, sensor integration, and future AI-enabled features. Natalia Noblet, president and CEO of Stoneridge, said the industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by rising connectivity, automation, and evolving regulations, and that EVO reflects the company's commitment to helping customers navigate that shift with a platform built to support innovation both now and in the future.
The EVO ECU Platform was developed in partnership with Renesas Electronics, combining automotive-grade processing power with Stoneridge's commercial vehicle expertise to support connected, software-defined vehicles going forward. Stoneridge also implemented a multi-layered security approach designed to protect critical vehicle systems while still allowing for future software expansion. Aish Dubey, vice president and head of the HPC SoC Division at Renesas, said the collaboration combines Stoneridge's commercial vehicle expertise with Renesas' R-Car system-on-chip, power management, and mixed-signal technologies to create a scalable, automotive-grade foundation for connected, software-defined commercial vehicles.
Building on an existing relationship, Stoneridge also worked closely with indie Semiconductor to develop the image processor that powers the EVO platform, with Stoneridge's engineering team providing direct input to meet the performance, image quality, and scalability requirements specific to commercial vehicles.
The EVO ECU Platform has already undergone extensive real-world testing through the Stoneridge Innovation Truck, a technology demonstrator vehicle showcasing integrated vision, connectivity, and platform capabilities across a range of operating conditions. That truck will also be on display at IAA Transportation 2026, where visitors can see the EVO ECU Platform and other Stoneridge technologies at Hall 21, Stand C44.
