ZF Consolidates Expertise for Semi-Autonomous Driving

• ZF acquires the employees and part of assets of R&D company in Germany for automotive technology

• Acquisition effective July 01, 2015 consolidates expertise in the future-oriented field of semi-autonomous driving

ZF Friedrichshafen AG consolidates its expertise in the future-oriented field of semi-autonomous driving. On July 01, 2015, ZF will acquire a development department with approximately 50 employees of HDLE GmbH located in Amtzell, Baden-Württemberg. The acquisition provides ZF with additional technology expertise for driver assistance systems.

The software development team taken over from HDLE will be integrated into ZF's Corporate Research and Development (R&D). In addition to the team of developers, the technology company took over several test vehicles and the development results. "The new employees have a great deal of expertise and experience from projects for several passenger car and commercial vehicle customers," says Dr. Stefan Sommer, ZF's CEO who is also responsible for R&D. "They are scarce on the market and perfectly complement our software development team at our Corporate Headquarters in Friedrichshafen."

Among other things, ZF puts more emphasis on the "surround view" technology in the future-oriented field of semi-autonomous driving. Cameras scan the area around the vehicle and transmit the images on a display. This permits to recognize dangers, such as approaching cross traffic, at an early stage and enables the drivers or the vehicle to react. The driver can also see pedestrians or cyclists on the side or at the rear of the vehicle. This all-round view enables drivers to maneuver even in tightest space.