The joint venture between Knorr-Bremse, the world's leading manufacturer of pneumatic braking systems and system provider for commercial vehicles, and Dongfeng, the largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in China, was founded in 2015. The starting point for Knorr-Bremse Dongfeng Electronic & Technology (DETC) Commercial Vehicle Braking Technology Co., Ltd. was the production of mechanical air valves and complete anti-lock braking systems (ABS). Dongfeng Auto Parts (Group) Co., Ltd. has now contributed the compressors and related business to the joint venture.

"Dongfeng and Knorr-Bremse complement each other perfectly. Knorr-Bremse brings comprehensive product expertise, Dongfeng in-depth market knowledge," explains Chen Xinglin, General Manager of Dongfeng Auto Parts.

"Since the joint venture was founded, the company has achieved excellent results," says Dr. Peter Laier, member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Systems division. "We are constantly optimizing our products in close cooperation with Dongfeng to meet the specific requirements of the Chinese market. The expanded cooperation with Dongfeng Auto Parts paves the way for customized solutions that make Chinese commercial vehicles safer, smarter and more environmentally friendly."

The Chinese authorities have tightened the rules and regulations for trucks and taken further measures to improve the efficiency and safety of commercial vehicles. The expansion of the partnership between the companies enables effective development partnerships with Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturers in order to meet the growing demands of customers in the Chinese market. Overall, the Chinese truck market is currently growing rapidly. After a rather moderate increase in sales figures of around 6 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, production and sales rose by around 20 percent in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in the previous year. kp