ZF TRW to Launch Electric Park Brake Technology in India From 2017

Known for its driveline, chassis and passive safety technologies, ZF TRW, in a joint venture with Brakes India Ltd. has won't the first business award for its Electric Park Brake (EPB) system in India. Still to go mainstream, the technology will go into production by 2017 in the country improving stopping power on vehicles, which also marks the first launch of its kind in the domestic market.

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The Electric Park Brake is an integral part of the braking system that comes with features like dynamic actuation and brake pad wear sensing, both of which help reduce the degradation associated with mechanical systems. The EPB unit also aids safety in emergency situations with full four-wheel anti-lock functionality when compared to the standard park brake system that provides emergency braking only on the rear axle.

ZF TRW offers a range of electric park brake systems inclusive of the standard EPB as well as the integrated EPB, which removes the need for a separate Electronic Control Unit (ECU) due to its integration with the Electronic Stability Control system. The company further says, there are also EPB systems for front axles that can help make the technology more suitable for smaller vehicles.

ZF's new electric park brake is part of the component manufacturer's aim to provide enhanced driver safety and comfort. Badri Vijayraghavan, executive director, Business Development, Brakes India said, "India will continue to be dominated by small cars with rear drum brakes. The offerings of a front EPB opens up a wealth of opportunity regarding EPB installation due to its packaging and performance benefits."

Manfred Meyer, global vice president, Braking Engineering, commented, “ZF TRW was first to market globally with its EPB system in 2001 which pioneered with Lancia, Audi and Volkswagen and more recently on the BMW X4 and BMW i8, Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X, Ford F150, Honda Accord, Nissan Qashqai, Range Rover Evoque and more.” The company has produced over 65 million units of the EPB system globally. ZF though hasn’t commented on which vehicles will get the EPB system first in India.