Meccanica 42

What Meccanica 42 does

Meccanica 42 S.r.l. is an Italian limited liability company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Sesto Fiorentino, with a registered office in Florence. The company designs and manufactures electronically controlled mechanical devices and simulation equipment for the automotive industry, spanning 11 products in two categories: four on-board devices installed in vehicles (Corner Brake Actuator for brake-by-wire, Pedal Feel Brake, Body System Unit vehicle ECU, and Pinion-type Steering Actuator for steering-by-wire) and seven hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) test bench products (Simulation Station, EPSiL steering test bench, BrakeiL brake rig, CamiL camera-in-the-loop, Virtual Column, Steering Robot, and Wheel Speed Emulator). The products enable independent per-corner control of braking and steering with integrated fall-back safety strategies and allow engineers to test hardware components in laboratory conditions before physical prototyping.

The company serves automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, motorsport and autonomous racing organizations, and academic research institutions. Revenue is generated through three streams: hardware sales of on-board devices, hardware sales of test benches and rigs, and professional services for custom integration and co-development ("custom innovation"). Pricing is quote-based with no public price list, and sales are conducted exclusively through direct enterprise engagement via email, website form, and phone. Notable commercial relationships include a strategic partnership with VI-grade for HiL integration into its driving simulator ecosystem (including a Shanghai SimCenter), supply of actuators to the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League powering Dallara SF23 vehicles, and research collaborations with Italian universities including Università di Napoli Federico II on the S.I.S.T.E.R. non-exhaust emissions project. Geographic reach spans Europe and Asia with no public revenue or funding data disclosed.

Name

Meccanica 42

Legal name

Meccanica 42 S.r.l.

Website

https://meccanica42.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Founded in 2015, Meccanica 42 S.r.l. designs electronically controlled brake, steering, and ECU on-board devices plus hardware-in-the-loop test benches for automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, motorsport teams, and research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Testing Equipment

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (33634), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Chassis Mechatronics & Active Dynamics (Active Suspension/Steer-by-Wire/Brake-by-Wire Hardware) (IMACAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Steering/Chassis Actuation for ADAS Manufacturing (EPS/Steer-by-Wire/Actuators) (IMACAMAI), Brake-Based Active Safety Hardware Manufacturing (ABS/ESC/AEB Actuators & Modulators) (IMACAMAH), ADAS Compute & Control Units Manufacturing (Domain Controllers/ECUs) (IMACAMAG)

Keywords

• Automotive testing equipment
• Hardware-in-the-loop systems
• Vehicle dynamics testing
• Brake-by-wire actuators
• ADAS development tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Sesto Fiorentino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - On-board Devices: Sale of specialized actuators including CBA (Corner Brake Actuator), PSA (Pinion-type Steering Actuator), BSU (Body System Unit), and PBF (Pedal Feel device) for brake-by-wire and autonomous steering applications in vehicle development
2. Hardware Sales - Test Benches and Rigs: Sale of simulation and testing equipment including EPSiL steering test bench, BrakeiL brake rig, CamiL camera rig, Simulation Station, Steering Robot, Virtual Column, and Wheel Speed Emulator for HiL testing environments
3. Custom Integration Services: Personalized integration services for device installation with expert engineering support, customized solutions and dedicated assistance for seamless fit into customer development processes
4. Special Projects and Co-development: Collaborative project development as co-makers for building custom solutions from the ground up, including custom innovation partnerships

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Meccanica 42 designs and manufactures electronically controlled mechanical actuators (Corner Brake Actuator, Pinion-type Steering Actuator, Pedal Feel Brake, Body System Unit ECU) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) test benches and rigs (EPSiL, BrakeiL, CamiL, Virtual Column, Steering Robot, Wheel Speed Emulator, Simulation Station) for automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and research institutions developing and validating vehicle dynamics, brake-by-wire, steering-by-wire, and ADAS systems. The offering spans plug-and-play on-board devices for real vehicle testing and integrated simulation platforms for laboratory-based hardware-in-the-loop validation.

Product overview

Meccanica 42 is an automotive technology company that develops innovative electronic control devices as development tools for vehicle testing. The product portfolio consists of 11 distinct offerings organized into two categories: four on-board devices for installation in actual vehicles (CBA brake actuator, PBF pedal feel system, BSU vehicle ECU, PSA steering actuator) and seven simulation/test bench products for laboratory hardware-in-the-loop testing (Simulation Station integration platform, EPSiL steering test bench, Virtual Column remote coupling system, SR Steering Robot, BrakeiL brake rig, CamiL camera-in-the-loop system, WSE wheel speed emulator). The on-board devices are plug-and-play solutions enabling execution of functionalities unattainable with traditional non by-wire devices, while the simulation products allow engineers to safely test all hardware components within a virtual environment, improving development processes and reducing time to market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBA (Corner Brake Actuator) High-performing electronically controlled brake actuator for brake-by-wire systems providing independent management of each brake line with rapid and accurate pressure adjustments and a robust fall-back strategy for emergency operation. Targeted at automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and racing teams developing brake-by-wire, ABS, ESC, and ADAS braking functions.
• PBF (Pedal Feel Brake) Light and compact electronically controlled device enabling customized pedal feel in brake-by-wire vehicles with freely configurable management and minimized friction for precise pedal feel reproduction.
• PedalSense System for authentic pedal feel reproduction without full brake system installation, using an electro-hydraulic piston for realistic and adjustable pedal feel in driving simulator and brake rig environments.
• BSU (Body System Unit) Open control vehicle ECU for managing electronic-controlled systems with freely developable logic. Can implement ABS and ESC logics, read wheel speed signals and master cylinder pressures, and serves as the master controller in CBA/PSA-equipped test setups.
• PSA (Pinion-type Steering Actuator) High-performing on-board steering actuator enabling development of autonomous steering functions with precise and independent steering gear management in position, torque, or speed control modes. Features fall-back strategy for emergency situations.
• Simulation Station Integrated hardware-in-the-loop platform combining vehicle driving components (EPSiL, BrakeiL, CamiL) into a virtual simulation environment for safe hardware testing in lab space, improving development processes and reducing time to market.
• EPSiL (Steering Test Bench) Real-time HiL steering test bench for indoor testing of complete steering systems, analyzing interaction between wheel forces, steering functions, and human-driven or robotized steering wheel actions with accurate reproduction of steering system conditions.
• Virtual Column Architecture coupling HiL steering bench to driving simulator using feedback and torque actuators remotely connected in real-time, enabling state-of-the-art static steering test bench capabilities on remotized simulators without increasing simulator payload.
• SR (Steering Robot) Highly versatile direct-drive steering actuator used with the EPSiL simulation station and remotized steering feedback unit, delivering precise steering torque reproduction during automated testing and enabling study of autonomous steering functions.
• BrakeiL (Brake Rig) Real-time brake rig for testing complete brake systems including pedal, booster, master cylinder, ESC module, and calipers. Enables automated tests or real-time testing with driving simulators for developing, tuning, and validating braking functions.
• CamiL (Camera-in-the-Loop) Camera rig enabling camera-based vehicle functions to be introduced into driving simulator laboratory for real-time testing of ADAS strategies. Shows virtual scenarios to front camera through lenses and monitors with Flash Kit for precise lighting control.
• WSE (Wheel Speed Emulator) Device introducing raw signals of up to four wheel speed sensors into HiL simulations with configurable wheel parameters, user-defined data protocol bits, and support for DF10, VDA, DF11 protocols with AK coding.
• Tire-Road Contact Force Measurement Device Measurement device that directly quantifies longitudinal, lateral, and vertical forces at the tire-road contact patch for R&D and regulatory testing including ASTM F1805-20 single-wheel traction procedures on low-grip surfaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hardware-in-the-Loop testing reduces development time by enabling early detection of integration issues and reducing late-stage failures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026S.I.S.T.E.R. (Sustainable Integrated System for Total non-Exhaust Reduction) project led by the university, scientifically coordinated by Professor Andrea Genovese, developed within MOST National Centre for Sustainable Mobility. Meccanica 42 designed dedicated interfaces for Tesla Model Y integration for non-exhaust emission measurement platform named P.A.R.T.E.N.O.P.E.
• VI-gradecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2023Strategic partnership announced October 11, 2023 for transforming vehicle development with HiL solutions. Meccanica 42's technologies (actuators, test benches) are integrated into VI-grade's driving simulation ecosystem. The partnership enables seamless HiL integration and real-time simulations. Meccanica 42's products are featured in VI-grade's new Shanghai SimCenter.
• ASPIRE Abu Dhabi / Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeccanica 42 provides actuators (CBA, PSA, BSU) and control systems for the autonomous racing league. The company powered vehicles in the inaugural A2RL race at Yas Marina Circuit in April 2024 and continues in subsequent seasons. Partnership involves Dallara SF23 vehicles and development of EAV-25 architecture.
• MegaRide - Applied Vehicle ResearchstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with vehicle dynamics expert Claudio Anniciniello and MegaRide for advanced testing and research activities. Participation in Seaside Racing events at Sele Circuit for vehicle dynamics testing.
• DIEF and DINFO LaboratoriesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with university engineering laboratories including 'Kick off Day' events. Joint research activities in vehicle dynamics and testing methodologies.
• Industrial Engineering Department - UNIPDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration including rental of Alfa Romeo Giulia to research centers for testing and data collection purposes.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Instruments (Emerson): US-based test & measurement hardware and software platform (PXI, LabVIEW) widely used as HiL real-time backbones in automotive ADAS and chassis test benches. Provides the broader underlying ecosystem competing for HiL budget allocations alongside niche specialists like Meccanica 42.
• Siemens Simcenter: Broad simulation portfolio (formerly LMS, then Siemens) for mechatronics, vehicle dynamics, and ADAS HiL validation. Overlaps with M42's simulation station, EPSiL, and BrakeiL categories inside much larger end-to-end CAE-to-HiL toolchains sold into the same OEMs.
• Vector Informatik: German supplier of automotive software tools, ECU testing, network communication, and HiL validation environments. Competes for ADAS/automotive testing budgets with a much broader portfolio that overlaps with M42's BSU ECU and HiL bench offerings.
• AVL: Austrian global leader in powertrain and vehicle development tools, including HiL test systems, driving simulators, and chassis/brake calibration. Larger incumbent offering broader validation toolchain that overlaps with M42's HiL/rig portfolio at OEM customers.

Direct peers

• VI-grade: Italian/German driving simulator maker (DiM, SHERPA, compact simulators) used as the integration backbone for M42's EPSiL/BrakeiL/CamiL/Virtual Column benches. Direct technology peer - and current M42 strategic partner - in offering complete HiL vehicle-dynamics simulation environments to OEMs.
• AB Dynamics: UK supplier of driving robots, ADAS test platforms, and autonomous vehicle testing solutions (and parent of Ansible Motion). Competes in chassis/steering/brake actuation for vehicle dynamics and autonomous testing programs - closely comparable technical scope.
• dSPACE: Germany-based leading supplier of HiL simulators and validation platforms for ADAS/autonomous driving and ECU development. Competes for the same HiL test bench budgets at automotive OEMs and has its own integrations with steering/brake actuators - the closest large-scale rival to Meccanica 42's HiL rigs.
• IPG Automotive: German maker of the CarMaker vehicle dynamics simulation platform and HiL solutions for ADAS, brake, and steering. Most direct technical competitor - both firms sell HiL simulation environments that integrate real chassis hardware (actuators, brake rigs, steering benches) into driving simulators for OEMs and Tier 1s.
• Ansible Motion: UK-based developer of driving simulators (Delta, Sigma, MiniSim) that pair with HiL steering and brake hardware for ADAS/AV development. Addresses the same customer workflows with steering robots and simulator platforms that compete for the same test bench procurement dollars.
• Stähle Robot Systems: German specialist in steering test systems and steering robots used in HiL steering testing and durability test benches. Directly comparable niche competitor to M42's PSA, SR (Steering Robot), and EPSiL on-board steering actuator product families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Meccanica 42