The deal will mark the first time that ZF’s OnTraX system for lane keeping assistance has been installed in a commercial vehicle platform in North America.

ZF states that upgrading to 5G will ensure that demands for seamless connectivity and large data transfers between vehicles and other nodes in the network are met at its test track.

The two companies will build a joint research facility in Germany, and ZF will invest in a new semiconductor fab planned for the state of Saarland in southwestern Germany.

Acquiring Intellic expands ZF’s current product and service offerings in the area of connected vehicle technologies - it envisages a single box (a ‘Connectivity Hub’) which will be able to reliably and accurately collect and relay data from multiple sources, including advanced driver assistance systems and electronic braking systems.

The ‘Smart Camera 6’ is the latest product ZF has developed in collaboration with Mobileye and is designed support ADAS and automated functions from Level 2 and 2+ to Level 3.

The German company unveiled a new range of autonomous shuttles designed for use in urban mixed-traffic scenarios, and announced a distribution agreement with mobility services provider Beep for the American market.

The ‘Heat Belt’ is designed to provide close-to-body warmth between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius while using just 70 watts of energy, providing a low-energy alternative to conventional heating systems.

In the first phase of construction, ZF will build a 12,000-square-metre plant covering four product lines: advanced driver assistance systems, high performance computing, safety electronics, and chassis control.

The funds raised are intended to support the company’s research and development into e-mobility, autonomous vehicles and advanced safety systems.

ZF has produced two million electric motors, including central drives and axle drives for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, since it began supply them for hybrid drives in 2008.

At IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover and at its Global Technology Day in Jeversen, ZF presented two truck-trailer combinations which showcased the company’s safety systems and its technologies for reducing fuel consumption, respectively.

‘ROADVIEW’, which stands for ‘Robust Automated Driving in Extreme Weather’ brings together 16 partners from 7 countries to come up with solutions to the challenges posed by harsh weather and poor visibility to autonomous vehicles.

The German automotive systems supplier reports that “several thousand” trailers in DSA’s fleet will be equipped with TX-Trailerpulse, connecting them to its Transics-branded 'Fleet Management Solutions'.

Frick succeeds Dr Konstantin Sauer, who will leave ZF at the end of the year.

The German manufacturer showcased the SCALAR EVO Touch tablet computer - allowing drivers to connect to the SCALAR fleet orchestration platform - and the latest CeTrax and ProAI products.

The partnership, bringing together ZF’s expertise in driveline component design and integration and FST’s fuel cell technology and battery knowhow, will produce complete fuel-cell electric drive systems for easy integration in a truck, bus or coach.

ZF is now offering fleet managers and other stakeholders a real-time AI-based automated decision-making fleet management solution called SCALAR that optimises the efficiency of freight logistics and passenger transportation all in one system. Claiming to set a new industry benchmark, SCALAR brings together advanced digital connectivity and future technologies, including autonomous driving, for mixed fleets.

By wire steering to be in series production for passenger cars from 2023, says ZF; but its still a few years away yet for inclusion in commercial vehicles. Find out why below.

In releasing product development news ahead of the IAA next month, Christian Brenneke, head of global R&D for the ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division outlined the direction and strategy of CVS.

At the end of 2022, Dr Holger Klein will replace Wolf-Henning Scheider as CEO and Dr Peter Laier will replace Wilhelm Rehm as head of Commercial Vehicle Solutions.

At Interschutz 2022, ZF showcased a modular drive system with electric motor, automatic transmission, and transfer case, and a new EcoLife transmissions system - both designed for offroad use.

July sees ZF do Brasil Ltda start production of the TraXon transmission at its plant in Sorocaba, state of São Paulo.

Daimler Truck AG has upgraded its Mercedes-Benz OC 500 bus chassis for Euro VI engines with new models for both the RF (raised floor) and LE (low entry) models. The new variant features ADAS systems such as sideguard and brake assist to improve safety.

The group's Commercial Vehicle Solutions division is designing the system specifically for urban applications, with the aim of preventing head-on collisions while also safeguarding passengers from the adverse effects of sudden and hard braking.