Knorr-Bremse completes acquisition of Hitachi Automotive’s CV steering business

Knorr-Bremse has completed acquisition of the commercial vehicle steering business of Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd. of Japan.

From left, Mr. Norio Yajima, Saitama branch Chief Executive, Hitachi Automotive Systems Working Union, Mr. Thomas Lippert, Chief Financial Officer, Knorr-Bremse AP, Mr. Baoping Xu, President, Knorr-Bremse CVS AP, Mr. Kunito Nakatsuru, Managing Director, Knorr-Bremse Steering Systems Japan, Mr. Masahiko Horiuchi, Managing Director, Knorr-Bremse Rail Japan, and Mr. Joachim Baczewski, Managing Director, KnorrBremse CVS Japan inaugurating the new company in Japan

“Knorr-Bremse has global experience with commercial vehicles in the fields of vehicle dynamics, driver assistance systems and the main related actuators, which means brakes and steering. The take-over of the commercial vehicle steering business from Hitachi Automotive will expand Knorr-Bremse’s steering system portfolio and further enhance its future potential as a global supplier of driver assistance and highly automated driving solutions”, explains Dr. Peter Laier, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Systems division.

With this transaction, Knorr-Bremse is setting a further milestone to become a global supplier for CVS steering systems for recirculating ball (RCB) and torque overlay steering (TOS). In addition, Knorr-Bremse takes a further step towards supplying its customers with highly integrated systems, as well as new functionalities in the field of driver assistance and automated driving.

Furthermore, Knorr-Bremse will gain a better access to the Japanese and the South-East Asian market and will have the opportunity to also provide further products of the business segment for commercial vehicles in these regions.

Knorr-Bremse is one of Germany’s most successful industrial companies and profits from the key global megatrends: urbanization, eco-efficiency, digitization and automated driving. Its products make a decisive contribution to greater safety and energy efficiency on rail tracks and roads around the world. Approximately 29,000 employees at over 100 sites in more than 30 countries use their competence and motivation to satisfy customers worldwide with products and services. In 2018, Knorr-Bremse’s two divisions together generated revenues of EUR 6.6 billion. For more than 110 years the company has been the industry innovator, driving innovation in mobility and transportation technologies with an edge in connected system solutions.