<p>To address the layout problem for in-wheel motor (IWM) electric vehicles and the demand for intelligent driving for active steering, a novel distributed integrated steer-by-wire module (DISM) is designed with the goal of further optimizing the handling stability and maneuverability of IWM electric vehicles. The design process, structural design, parameter optimization, hardpoint optimization, strength checking, and handling stability verification are studied. To reduce the negative effect of IWMs on vertical vibration, optimization of the suspension system parameters via the particle swarm optimization algorithm is studied. Based on the structural characteristics of the DISM and the hardpoints of the initial design, a multibody dynamics model for the DISM is built, and the kinematic characteristics are analyzed on the basis of parallel wheel travel and steering tests. To improve the optimization efficiency, the parameter sensitivity of DISM is analyzed based on the experimental design. With respect to the difference in the kinematic characteristics between the prototype vehicle and modified vehicle, the optimization objectives and optimization parameters are determined based on the sensitivity analysis results. To improve the kinematic characteristics of the modified vehicle and reduce tire wear, a multiobjective optimization process and a joint optimization platform based on Adams, Isight and MATLAB are constructed, and the structural hardpoints are optimized via the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II. A handling stability verification platform is established to verify the handling stability of the modified vehicle. The results reveal that the kinematic characteristics, tire wear and handling stability of the optimized modified vehicle can be improved effectively.</p>