Rohde & Schwarz will use CES 2026 to underline the growing role of test and measurement technology in the automotive industry, as manufacturers rework vehicles around electrification, software and advanced connectivity.
The Germany-based group said it would present tools designed to support electric drivetrain development, high-speed in-vehicle data links, radar validation, ultra-wideband safety applications and satellite-based communications. The focus, it said, is on shortening development cycles while meeting tighter performance and regulatory requirements.
“The automotive industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in a century,” said Juergen Meyer, Vice President Market Segment Automotive at Rohde & Schwarz. He said the shift to electric drivetrains, new connectivity technologies such as non-terrestrial networks, and more advanced sensors for automated driving has increased the need for accurate and repeatable testing.
In electric mobility, the company is highlighting test systems for analysing inverters and battery management systems. These tools are designed to assess switching behaviour, electromagnetic interference and power efficiency, allowing suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers to identify faults earlier in the development process.
Rohde & Schwarz is also focusing on in-vehicle connectivity as data rates rise for camera, radar and infotainment systems. It is demonstrating compliance testing for the OpenGMSL standard using oscilloscopes and vector network analysers to assess signal integrity, jitter and cable performance, as the technology moves towards wider adoption in camera, display and radar links.
Radar development is another area where testing is moving earlier in the design cycle. Through a partnership with simulation company fiveD, Rohde & Schwarz is showing how radar sensors can be modelled using digital twins before hardware prototypes are available, enabling potential errors to be identified sooner.
Ultra-wideband technology, increasingly used for in-cabin sensing and digital keys, is being demonstrated through test setups that simulate realistic targets for applications such as child-presence detection, hands-free access and intrusion monitoring.
The company is also addressing the push for continuous connectivity beyond terrestrial networks. As carmakers assess the use of non-terrestrial networks to support safety, automated driving and infotainment services, Rohde & Schwarz is promoting testing at chipset, antenna and vehicle level using its CMX500 radio communication tester.
Regulatory compliance is a further driver. In Europe, next-generation eCall systems with stricter radio frequency and protocol requirements will be mandatory for new vehicles, while China is preparing a new automotive GNSS testing standard for its AECS emergency call system, expected to take effect by 2027.
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