IAA 2026: ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions Delivers Growth in Times of Transformation
- Almost 90%-win rate in customer acquisitions underlines strong customer confidence in ZF’s commercial vehicle technology portfolio and strategy
- More than €5 billion in awarded business in 2026 so far demonstrates continued growth in a dynamic market environment
- ZF showcases at IAA Transportation 2026 how it supports multiple pathways toward zero-emission, zero-accident and software-defined commercial vehicles
Hanover, Germany. As the commercial vehicle industry continues its transformation towards zero-emission, zero-accident and software-defined vehicles, ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) demonstrates how strong customer trust, technology leadership and market success go hand in hand. With an almost 90 percent customer acquisition win rate, more than €5 billion in awarded lifetime business in 2026 so far, CVS continues to deliver measurable customer value. Strong momentum in growth markets (+41% in India vs. 2025), further underscores the division’s success in helping customers navigate increasingly complex transformation pathways.
Commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators are currently facing increasingly diverse market requirements. Different regulatory frameworks, charging infrastructure readiness levels and technology adoption speeds require flexible pathways toward the commercial vehicle of the future. As a global partner, ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions supports OEMs and fleets in meeting these challenges while creating measurable business value.
“The long-term vision for commercial vehicles remains clear: safer transport, lower emissions and increasingly intelligent vehicles. However, the pace of transformation differs significantly across regions, applications and customer requirements”, said Andreas Moser, Member of the ZF Board of Management and Head of CVS Division. “Our role is to help customers navigate this complexity and support them with the right technologies for their specific transformation pathways.”
“These results are clear signals from our customers. An almost 90 percent win rate in customer acquisitions and more than €5 billion business awarded so far in 2026 demonstrate strong confidence in ZF’s technology portfolio and long-term strategy,” said Fabian Schlegel, Global Head of Sales and Head of EMEA Region, CVS Division. “Technology leadership ultimately has to be proven in the market, and these results show that customers around the world continue to choose ZF.”
Multiple Pathways to Decarbonization Drive Customer Success
The transition toward lower-emission transportation is progressing through multiple technology pathways. Depending on application, region and charging infrastructure readiness, customers continue to pursue different approaches ranging from hybrid solutions to fully electric drivelines. With its broad portfolio and scalable platform strategy, ZF supports customers across all relevant pathways toward decarbonization while helping them manage complexity and accelerate innovation.
Driveline Highlights at IAA 2026:
- TraXon Hybrid: enabling practical electrification pathways for long-haul transport based on proven transmission platform
- CeTrax 2: increased power levels, broader application coverage and Power Take-Off (PTO) availability
- AxTrax 2: higher output torque levels, enabling higher gross combination weights and broader application coverage
- Modular e-Drive Kit: scalable e-Drive building blocks forming the foundation of electric driveline solutions
Recent Market Success with Driveline Technologies:
- Major AxTrax 2 LF city bus business win in India
- AxTrax 2 start of production in China
- CeTrax 2 dual entering series production in Europe
- TraXon 2 with Intarder business success in Japan for Hino S’Elega coach
- More than 1.5 Mio TraXon automated manual transmissions produced since 2014
Creating Efficiency Beyond Propulsion
Improving efficiency extends far beyond the driveline. A strong proof point is ZF’s air management business: In 2026, the company will reach the milestone of one million 2-stage compressors produced and delivered, twenty years after pioneering the technology at IAA 2006. Today, the new Air Supply Unit combines electrified compressor and air processing technologies in one highly efficient integrated system. Efficiency gains are also achieved through advanced brake technologies. With MAXX Uniper, ZF is introducing the next generation of air disc brakes.
Efficiency Technology Highlights at IAA 2026:
- Air Supply Unit: integrated solution combining e-comp Scroll and Air Processing Units for efficient compressed air generation in electrified vehicles
- World premiere of MAXX Uniper Air Disc Brake: next-generation single-piston air disc brake designed for enhanced performance and reduced brake dust particle emissions – Euro 7-ready
Recent Market Success with Efficiency Technologies:
- Prolongation of our contract with a major global truck and bus OEM for the Electronic Air Processing Unit
- Continued compressor business growth in North America, highlighted by a new long-term agreement with Cummins
Creating Safety Value Beyond Compliance
As commercial vehicles become increasingly automated and connected, safety is evolving from a regulatory requirement into a key business differentiator. ZF continues to support customers with scalable safety and braking technologies that help improve vehicle protection, operational performance and readiness for higher levels of automation.
Safety Technology Highlights at IAA 2026:
- Scalable portfolio of cameras and radars, allowing OEMs to tailor sensing architectures for a wide range of safety applications
- Enhanced 360° safety functions with automatic braking intervention to help prevent collisions during complex driving and maneuvering scenarios
- New electronic control unit supporting centralized and zonal E/E architectures, enabling software scalability and reduced system complexity
- Combined with its AL4-capable braking technology based on mBSP XBS, which is Today already deployed more than 250k times globally, the ZF portfolio provides a foundation for safe, scalable and highly automated driving
- Braking intelligence extended to the trailer: ZF’s latest generation iEBS brings advanced braking and control capabilities to the trailer and supports the transition toward increasingly automated commercial vehicles
Recent Market Success with Safety Technologies:
- Continued market leadership in ADAS across Europe thanks to customer commitments until 2030
- Continued European leadership in advanced trailer braking systems and roll out acceleration in China and South America
- Major ESC business wins in India ahead of upcoming legislation
- Today, 20 million braking systems (ABS, EBS, mBSP XBS) successfully deployed across the globe
The Software-Defined Commercial Vehicle Is Becoming Reality
Software-defined vehicles are one of the central topics across the commercial vehicle industry. For ZF, however, the Software-Defined Commercial Vehicle (SdCV) is no longer a future vision. While following an evolutionary approach, the first building blocks are already delivering measurable value to customers Today through improved uptime, reduced maintenance needs, regulatory compliance and connected vehicle services.
Software Intelligence Technology Highlights at IAA 2026:
- Service-oriented vehicle architecture as the foundation for Software-Defined Commercial Vehicles
- Truck-Trailer Link, unlocking new levels of vehicle-trailer integration and functionality
- Over-the-Air Update Solutions, enabling continuous vehicle improvement throughout the lifecycle
- OptiRide ECAS, demonstrating how software makes existing technologies smarter: its improved Smart Pneumatic Actuator can directly host application software without need for an external ECU, simplifying integration and reducing system costs
Customer Value Already on the Road Today:
- SUMS Service Suite supporting OEMs in software update management compliance, already used by more than 150 trailer manufacturers
- [pro]Diagnostics: SaaS-powered diagnostics platform for OEMs and fleets with regular updates and cybersecurity compliance
- ZF Health Check for AxTrax 2 LF and further ZF products provides enhanced transparency into vehicle and component condition status
- ZF’s e-Drive and Braking Synergy Program, combining intelligent software and vehicle systems to unlock additional performance and efficiency benefits
ZF at IAA Transportation 2026
From September 15 to 20, 2026, visitors to IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover will have the opportunity to experience ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions’ latest technologies in Hall 21, Booth B42 and exchange with ZF experts.
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