ZF and Hella reach strategic cooperation to pave the way for autonomous driving

At 17:00 on June 20, local time in Slovakia, ZF Friedrichshafen AG announced a strategic partnership with HELLA. The two parties will provide modern assistance systems for buses, commercial vehicles and off-road applications in terms of camera systems, imaging and radar sensor technologies, enhance vehicle sensor safety, and pave the way for the development of autonomous driving.

The first project will be launched in 2020

Headquartered in Germany, ZF is a global automotive industry partner and parts supplier, specializing in transmission, steering, chassis systems and other automotive parts. Hella is committed to the research and development and production of vehicle components, lighting technology systems and electronic equipment.

It is understood that for future cooperation, ZF will further strengthen its portfolio as a system supplier to provide modern assistance systems and autonomous driving functions, while Hella will benefit from a wider market access, with its leading technology-driven technological development. The first joint development project of the two parties on camera system technology will be launched immediately and is expected to be launched on the market in 2020.

"This strategic partnership for sensor technology with HELLA enhances our position as a complete system supplier for modern assistance systems as well as automated driving functions," said Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen. "This non-exclusive cooperation with HELLA is an important expansion of our Vision Zero Ecosystem development partnership. As a result, we can create a broader technology basis for safe and autonomous driving."

Dr. Rolf Breidenbach, CEO of Hella, added: "Hella is a strong and experienced sensor technology provider. Our knowledge is perfectly aligned with ZF's expertise. By combining our strengths, we have the clear goal of providing market-leading and high-performance assistance systems and automated driving functions. In addition, this cooperation will strengthen Hella's position as a highly respected supplier of imaging radar sensor technology."

For the first joint project between the two parties, ZF and HELLA will provide the automaker with jointly developed products and start immediately with an expected SOP 2020. ZF brings hardware and expertise in systems and integration to the table, while HELLA and its subsidiary HELLA Milan Mobile Vision contribute capabilities for the development and application of tried and tested imaging software.

"In the future, Euro NCAP safety ratings will require assistance from cameras that support auxiliary functions. Therefore, the demand for front cameras in all vehicle segments will increase." Both parties are very optimistic about this market prospect.

Paving the way for Vision Zero

"In 2013, ZF formulated its 2025 strategy and predicted the market trend. We called it 'Vision Zero' - zero accidents and zero emissions," said Stefan Sommer. "Nowadays, the development of automated driving is faster than expected. The cooperation with HELLA is to better seize the market opportunity."

Stefan Sommer further explained, “The automotive industry and the mobility industry are facing disruptive changes. In order to achieve Vision Zero, the technology direction must be developed towards zero emissions, mobile travel, automated driving, digitalization, and pure electric vehicles.

Dr. Rolf Breidenbach, global CEO of Hella Group, said that the two parties will cooperate in radar and cameras, which are also the most important technologies for realizing autonomous driving in the future.

In addition to the camera projects mentioned above, in the medium and long term, the two parties will also provide camera systems for autonomous driving functions, as well as commercial vehicles and off-highway applications. ZF expands its camera portfolio and thus offers customers more options while continuing to work with established partners. Hella Milan gains a new customer and partner for independent and open software solutions for driver assistance systems.

In the collaborative work in the radar systems division, both parties will also identify opportunities to offer attractive solutions for series production in the short to medium term and jointly build up a product portfolio. Hella's 360° surround view radar system and ZF's mid-range and long-range radar systems will establish a new, comprehensive system solution.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.