At the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2008 in Hanover, ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Beiqi Foton Motor Co. Ltd. signed an agreement on strategic cooperation in China which also describes both parties’ intentions concerning export markets. For the time being, this agreement covers a newly developed delivery truck for which ZF supplies driveline technology, and which will be launched on the Chinese market in 2009. Moreover, cooperation is planned for further commercial vehicle projects.

"With the cooperation agreement with Foton in China, ZF captures an excellent position in one of the most important commercial vehicle markets of the future", says Rolf Lutz, Group Executive of the Commercial Vehicle and Special Driveline Technology division and Member of the Board of Management of ZF Friedrichshafen AG. "The combination of our expertise in driveline technology and Foton's market position will bring many benefits to both partners."

The document, which provides for a strategic cooperation between ZF and Beiqi Foton Motor Co. Ltd., was signed by both companies at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2008 in Hanover. "The globally established commercial vehicle driveline technology by ZF is a quality feature on the Chinese market and worldwide, which is sure to be even more competitive in the future", says Mr. Wang Jinyu, CEO at Foton.

So far, the strategic cooperation applies to the new development of a light commercial vehicle which will start with the manual 5S400 transmission by ZF. The prototype phase will start in October 2008 and start of production is scheduled for 2009. In addition, there are plans for cooperating in the development phase of a medium-duty truck as well as a pick-up truck. In the context of the agreement, cooperation is also planned for automated transmissions and hybrid vehicles.

Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., which is headquartered in Beijing, was founded in 1996. Meanwhile, the brand value of Foton amounts to CNY 22.16 billion (EUR 2.296 billion). The Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer has a headcount of 26,000 employees and has sold 2.4 million vehicles during the last 12 years. This makes Foton the number one among the Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturers. Among the Group's brands are Auman, AUV, View, Saga, Aumark, Ollin, Sup, and Forland.

Already today, ZF supplies the Chinese market with driveline and chassis/suspension components, passenger car and commercial vehicle transmissions, axle systems, steering technology, as well as products for construction machinery, marine applications, and rail vehicles. Meanwhile, ZF is represented in China with 19 production companies. In 2007, ZF was awarded the contract for a major order of the Beijing Public Transport Corporation, covering the supply of the latest low-floor technology for new city buses in Beijing. Meanwhile, more than 2,400 buses in the Chinese capital are equipped with technology by ZF, among these low-floor axles, steering technology, and the automatic 6-speed Ecomat transmission.

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