ZF begins domestic production of electronic brake module

ZF announced the nationalization of its Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for commercial vehicle braking systems. This initiative marks a pioneering step in the local production of electronic safety components, increasing the level of localization required by automakers and manufacturers in Brazil.

According to the company, the domestically produced module combines safety and comfort features such as electronic stability control (ESC), hill start assist (HSA), traction control (ATC), and anti-lock braking system (ABS). ESC is a highlight, as it will become mandatory on trucks, buses, and road equipment manufactured in Brazil starting in January 2025.

Transport safety

Data from the National Transportation Confederation (CNT) from 2024 indicate that road departure was among the main causes of rollovers and overturns involving commercial vehicles. For ZF, technologies like ESC are essential to reducing accidents and increasing road safety.

“These solutions play a crucial role in helping to reduce accident rates and promote safer transportation,” he says. Caio Fattori (pictured), Product Management Manager at ZF South America.

Benefits for the industry

According to the company, local ECU production brings direct benefits to automakers, such as increased competitiveness, logistical predictability, reduced homologation costs, and increased domestic content in vehicles. Localization also reinforces ZF's strategy of expanding its portfolio of intelligent solutions, which go beyond purely mechanical systems.

The project follows the same hardware and software standards already used by the company in Europe, enabling plug-and-play integration while maintaining global specifications. According to the company, this decision paves the way for the expanded use of onboard electronics in the commercial vehicle segment in Brazil.

Production in Limeira (SP)

Manufacturing takes place at the Limeira, São Paulo, facility, the only one in Brazil dedicated to producing electronic safety components for the automotive sector. Since 2013, the plant has produced more than 8 million modules for braking, steering, and airbag systems.

With the arrival of the commercial vehicle ECU, the factory received new automated equipment and performance testers with full traceability, meeting international quality standards. The process was approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNICE), receiving the international E1 certification, which enables the unit to export to markets in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

"International recognition reinforces the capabilities of our employees and the quality of the plant's processes, which in many cases exceeds global standards," highlights Plínio Casante, head of the Electronics Division at ZF South America.

perspectives

For ZF, the ECU nationalization represents a long-term strategic move. In addition to strengthening the national automotive supply chain, the company believes that local production paves the way for further nationalization of electronic components, keeping pace with the evolution of commercial vehicles, which are increasingly digital, connected, and controlled by software.

“The operation in Limeira is prepared to nationalize other solutions that require on-board electronics, strengthening the competitiveness of the automotive industry in Brazil,” concludes Fattori.