IAA, China, Truck, Foton--At IAA: More ZF Activity In China

A little more than a day after it announced an extension of an existing cooperation with a Chinese vehicle manufacturer, German drivetrain specialist ZF said it has signed a letter of intent on future cooperation with yet another Chinese truck builder at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover.

The aim of the cooperation between ZF and Beiben Truck is to found a joint venture covering the production of complete rear axle suspension systems for heavy trucks in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. In the next two years, Beiben Truck plans to introduce a new generation of heavy trucks to the Chinese market. As part of the cooperation, ZF is to industrialize a complete rear axle suspension system which is designed to meet the demands and requirements of the Chinese market. Production launch is scheduled for the end of 2011.

ZF is also planning to extend its product portfolio by introducing systems business for complete truck rear axle suspensions. Beiben Truck will receive a system which meets European quality standards and will optionally be available either as a leaf spring version or with a pneumatic spring, ZF said. The partners are also talking about possible further cooperation for cabin suspensions and other chassis technology.

Beiben Truck is a brand of Baotou Bei Ben Heavy-Duty Truck Co., Ltd. which is headquartered in Baotou. In 2009, the company produced approximately 35,000 heavy commercial vehicles at three locations in China.

The Beiben announcement comes on the heels of the renewal of ZF’s strategic cooperation agreement with Beiqi Foton Motor Co. The two companies said that within the next two years, Foton will place a new generation of its light commercial vehicles onto the Chinese market and they will be equipped with the ZF-Ecolite six-speed transmission. ZF and Foton added that they are also carrying out research on "possible cooperation in other fields" and investigating the "potential for cooperation outside of China."

Headquartered in Beijing, the commercial vehicle maker has sold four million vehicles during the past 14 years and its brands include Auman, AUV, View and Saga.

Source: Diesel Progress Online