Karlsruhe/Munich/Schweinfurt – The Automotive Aftermarket division of Robert Bosch GmbH, Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG's ZF Service business unit plan to establish a joint venture. This new company will operate as a system center providing a full-service portfolio for multi-brand commercial-vehicle workshops. The joint venture is to be based in the greater Munich area and will initially employ some ten associates. The formation of the joint venture is subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities.

The joint venture's full-service portfolio is to include a hotline, technical training programs and information, diagnostics, workshop equipment, and quality management. Starting from the middle of next year, it is initially planned to offer the workshop franchise as an independent brand to multi-brand commercial-vehicle workshops in Germany. Following this, it will gradually be rolled out in other European countries.

The three joint-venture partners are among the leading international suppliers to passenger-car and commercial-vehicle manufacturers. Their product range helps the transport sector save fuel and makes it more eco-friendly. Their product ranges are complemented by extensive service expertise gained over many years in their individual workshop franchises.

“In the shape of Bosch Car Service and AutoCrew, Bosch already offers two internationally successful full-service concepts in the passenger-car workshop market. Based on this experience of workshop franchises and our expertise in the commercial-vehicle industry, for example with regard to engines and electrics, we intend to work together with Knorr-Bremse and ZF, whose strengths complement our own, so that workshops that service and repair commercial vehicles can also benefit from these services,” says Robert Hanser, president of the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division.

“The growing technical complexity of commercial-vehicle systems makes it increasingly important that we improve workshop expertise in this area, and in this way lastingly boost these workshops' competitiveness. As a specialist for safety systems in the commercial-vehicle sector, we are excited about this cooperation with Bosch and ZF, since it allows us to offer workshops advice in this area and to help them satisfy growing demands,” says Klaus Deller, member of the executive board of Knorr-Bremse AG.

“With its comprehensive ZF Services ProTech franchise, ZF Services already offers workshops tailored support in drive and chassis technology. Together with our partners, we are now able to offer an even wider range of services,” says Alois Ludwig, chairman of the board of directors of ZF Services. He goes on to summarize the objective of the planned workshop franchise for commercial vehicles: “Commercial-vehicle customers place particular importance on high quality and flexible service. Our combination of a new franchise concept and tried and tested products in OE quality will allow us to help workshops take up this challenge and position themselves in the market.”

Contact persons for press inquiries:
Bosch:
Heiderose Dreiner
Phone: +49 (0)721 942-3145
Heiderose.Dreiner@bosch.com

Knorr-Bremse AG:
Christoph Günter
Phone: +49 (0)89 3547-1402
Christoph.guenter@knorr-bremse.com

ZF Services:
Fabiola Wagner
Phone: +49 (0)9721 475-6110
fabiola.wagner@zf.com

The Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division (AA) provides the aftermarket and repair shops worldwide with a complete range of diagnostic and repair shop equipment and a wide range of spare parts – from new and exchange parts to repair solutions – for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Its product portfolio includes products made as Bosch original equipment, as well as aftermarket products and services developed and manufactured in-house. More than 11,000 associates in 140 countries, as well as a global logistics network, ensure that some 450,000 different spare parts reach customers quickly and on time. In its “Diagnostics” operations, AA supplies testing and repair-shop technology, diagnostic software, service training, and information services. In addition, the division is responsible for the “Bosch Service” repair-shop franchise, one of the world’s largest independent chains of repair-shops, with some 15,000 franchises. In addition, AA is responsible for more than 500 “AutoCrew” partners. Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch-automotive.com. The Knorr-Bremse Group is the world's leading manufacturer of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles. For more than 100 years now the company has pioneered the development, production, marketing and servicing of state-of-the-art braking systems. In the rail vehicle systems sector, the product portfolio also includes intelligent door systems, control components, air conditioning systems and windscreen wiper systems, as well as platform screen doors. Knorr-Bremse also offers driving simulators and e-learning systems for optimum train crew training. In the commercial vehicle systems sector, the product range includes complete braking systems with driver assistance systems, as well as torsional vibration dampers, powertrain-related solutions and transmission control systems for enhanced energy efficiency and fuel economy. Additional information can be accessed at www.knorr-bremse.com ZF is a leading worldwide automotive supplier for Driveline and Chassis Technology with 121 production companies in 27 countries. In 2011, the Group achieved a sales figure of Euro 15.5 billion with more than 72 000 employees. In order to continue to be successful with innovative products, ZF annually invests about five percent of its sales (2011: Euro 750 million) in research and development. ZF Services consistently continues the systems expertise of ZF in the aftersales market. With integrated solutions and the complete ZF product portfolio, the business unit ensures the performance and efficiency of vehicles throughout their complete service life. For the aftermarket business, ZF's driveline and chassis technology is offered using the well-established product brands Sachs, Lemförder, Boge, and ZF Parts. With its global service network and on-demand offers, ZF Services has also become a popular partner in the non-automotive sector. Additional information can be accessed at www.zf.com/presse