Schaeffler’s TriFinity Wheel Bearing combines the low-friction benefits of ball bearings with the load capacity of tapered roller bearings to help meet the demands of large electric pickups and SUVs.
FORT MILL, S.C.—Motion technology company Schaeffler was named a 2026 Automotive News PACE Award finalist for its pioneering TriFinity® wheel bearing, the company said in an August release.
The company’s ultra-low-friction wheel hub unit is one of 32 automotive inventions and advancements selected as finalists in the annual competition, which celebrates innovations that help redefine industry standards.
Schaeffler’s TriFinity wheel bearing is reported to combine the low-friction benefits of ball bearings with the load-carrying capacity of tapered roller bearings. (Image: Schaeffler/PRNewswire)
Schaeffler developed its TriFinity wheel bearing—which combines the low-friction benefits of ball bearings with the load-carrying capacity of tapered roller bearings—to meet the demands of large electric pickups and SUVs. By moving from a conventional two-row bearing architecture to a highly optimized three-row design, Schaeffler was able to enhance load-carrying capacity and reduce friction losses, helping improve efficiency without sacrificing durability, the company said.
“Schaeffler is honored to be recognized as a finalist for the 2026 Automotive News PACE Award alongside such a distinguished group of global automotive innovators,” said Schaeffler Director-BU Wheel Bearings, Mike Eastman, in the release. “With its unique triple-row ball bearing design, TriFinity enables higher axle loads while minimizing friction and weight to help extend the range of electric vehicles. In this way, TriFinity embodies Schaeffler’s commitment to delivering greater efficiency and sustainability for the automotive industry.”
The Automotive News PACE Awards have honored superior innovation, technological advancement, and business performance among automotive suppliers for more than 30 years. Schaeffler has been named an Automotive News PACE Award finalist or winner more than a dozen times. This year’s winners are scheduled to be announced live at the 2026 PACE Awards ceremony in November.
“The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for 80 years,” the company stated in the release. “With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis solutions, and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable over the entire life cycle.”
Schaeffler describes its comprehensive range of products and services by means of eight product families, from bearing solutions and numerous types of linear guidance systems to repair and monitoring services.