Starting in late 2024, ZF will provide its CeTrax 2 dual electric central drive, which is designed for heavy-duty trucks, including Ford Trucks' electric rigid truck (F-Line E). This drive offers two electric motors with a continuous power of 380 kW and a peak torque of 24,700 Nm, enabling efficient and powerful performance.

The new ‘HV (i.e., high voltage) Test & Validation Laboratory’ is already accredited to national and international standards for testing electric vehicles with architectures rated at 800 volts.

At IAA Transportation 2024 last month, I experienced firsthand the magnetic effect of the “Tesla phenomenon”. Towards the end of a series of keynote speeches delivered by some of the industry’s most important executives, Dan Priestley, who heads the development of Tesla’s heavy electric ‘Semi’ truck, took to the stage to provide an update on the company’s plans for the commercial vehicle segment. I had a place towards the front, having sat through the preceding talks that afternoon, which were reasonably well attended; however, looking behind just before Priestley’s entry to the stage, I saw a new crowd of attendees filling out the entire space.

This is the key take away from conversations at the IAA Transportation and following a round table discussion with Prof. Dr. Peter Laier, Member of the Board of ZF Group.

ZF confirmed that under the new agreement it would further develop the latest version of the hybrid automated manual transmission system, TraXon 2 Hybrid, for heavy-duty trucks in China.

The company introduced its F-Line E, an all-electric heavy-duty truck using a ZF electric drive system. Set to go into series production in 2025 at its Eskişehir Plant in Northeastern Turkey, the F-LINE series integrates several high-end safety technologies.

The agreement is designed to support Farizon Auto’s expansion in the methanol-hydrogen and electric-powered commercial vehicle segment.

Across its many German locations, ZF intends to shed between 11,000 and 14,000 employees over the next four years (from a current total of approximately 54,000) in order to cut costs and consolidate its operations.

ZF says its update management service will “fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities as well as add new features while maintaining compliance” with the UN ECE R156 regulation.

At this year’s ‘Global Technology Day’ – held at its test track on 27 June in Jeversen, to the north of Hanover – ZF Group’s CEO, Dr Holger Klein, observed that, while sales of fully electric cars are slowing down, hybrids are seeing “a renaissance”. Fittingly, ZF used the event to promote one of its latest innovations, a new hybrid drive system. During the rest of the day, however, we were taken onto the track to see how its advanced safety technologies from the passenger car segment are now being transferred to trucks.

Aidrivers will contribute its expertise in developing autonomous driving software, while ZF’s Mobility Solutions division will act as engineering partner, handling integration, validation, and deployment of the technology.

ZF India is implementing its 2021 REFRESH INDIA strategy, which focuses on offering next generation mobility solutions through the combination of the   ZF technologies, as well as new emerging ACE technologies - Autonomous, Connected and Electrification.

The European e-bus market gathered in Bonn, Germany to test drive several OEM’s new electric bus (some articulated) offerings. T&BB was in attendance as we gathered at the Stadtwerke Bonn bus depot to begin comparison testing.

Having announced its ‘E-Mobility kit’ in 2023 – a portfolio of advanced electric drives, auxiliary components and complete systems for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles – ZF says it plans to ramp up production from 2025 to meet demand.

The plant, which is located in an industrial suburb of Chennai (called Oragadam), will produce various electrical components for CV chassis and, in the near future, air compressors for light- and medium-duty vehicles.

‘ZF [pro]Service’ is a new aftermarket offering which combines ‘ZF Service Point’, ‘ZF [pro]Tech’ (for CVs) and ‘WABCO Service Partner’.

From 7 July this year, all newly registered vehicles in the European Union must comply with the second tranche of rules known as the ‘General Safety Regulation’ (“GSR II”). These regulations will require all new road vehicles to be installed with more advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which employ some of the latest innovations being made at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence. These include systems for intelligent speed assistance; reversing detection with cameras and/or sensors; attention warnings in case of driver drowsiness or distraction; event data recorders; and emergency stop signals.

With the announced investment, ZF will hire 400 new workers and prepare the site for a wider range of manufacturing outputs, serving both internal combustion engines and electric powertrains.

The ‘Nikola Tre’ range of Class 8 fuel cell trucks, which is now in production, will come with two ZF advanced driver assistance systems: ‘OnGuardMAX’ and ‘OnSideALERT’.

The company announced that, given ongoing market pressures and the high cost of transitioning to electric vehicles, as well as a slower-than-anticipated development of the market for autonomous shuttles, it could no longer justify the high upfront investments required to further develop its autonomous shuttle.

Solutrans 2023 was held between 21-25 November at Eurexpo in Lyon, France. Over 1,000 exhibitors and 50,000 guests gathered for the 17th edition of this historic show, centred around the European heavy and light commercial vehicle industry.

Users of Thermo King's 'TracKing' will be able to access electronic braking system, odometer, axle-load, and tyre pressure data alongside information pulled from the transport refrigeration unit.

ZF displayed this model variant at Busworld Europe in Brussels at the same time.

As part of the partnership agreement, ZF is to provide development services, autonomous driving (AD software) and expertise for higher level AD.