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.

The AxTrax 2 LF is the successor to the ‘AxTrax AVE’, taking up about the same amount of installation space, with 260-kW and 360-kW options.

By the end of September, 210 ambulances and 50 emergency vehicles will be fitted with transmitters and receivers, along with on-board diagnostics, for remote data exchange.

TraXon unit number 1,000,000 rolled off the production line at the company’s headquarters on 11 September, only eighteen months after ZF surpassed 500,000 units.

The German company plans to develop 400-volt and 800-volt variants for its electric drive systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Under the banner of the “ZF New Energy Vehicle eDrive Project” – which has reportedly opened two e-mobility plants in China since 2021 – the new factory will cover an area of 8.3 hectares and employ 900 workers when complete.

A short report on the Global Technology Day, held on 29 June 2023, which featured factory tours, vehicle demonstrations, and a keynote by CEO Dr Holger Klein.

The low cabin of the ‘Volta Zero’ will be supported by an independent front suspension from ZF which can support a vehicle width of up to 2,600mm and an axle load of 8,200 kg.

Tevva says it worked extensively with the ‘Commercial Vehicle Solutions’ (CVS) division of German components group ZF to integrate its electronic braking system (EBS) with the truck.

The ‘AxTrax 2’ is a follow-up to ZF’s existing line of integrated electric portal axles for buses, delivering 210 kW of continuous power and 26,000 Nm peak output torque.

ZF says it will launch series production of a new modular inverter architecture in 2025, which will contain silicon carbide components supplied by STMicroelectronics.

The CeTrax lite is made for commercial vehicles weighing under 7.5 tonnes and is geared towards inner city and last-mile applications.