Brembo, the Italian specialist in braking systems, said it will set up a joint venture with Chinese automotive components company Ningbo Huaxiang Electronic to introduce Brembo's Sensify intelligent braking platform in China.
The companies announced the partnership on Friday, positioning the venture as the next step in Brembo's expansion in the Chinese market after the supplier recently began production for a major global automaker and secured additional customer agreements.
Brembo's chief executive, Daniele Schillaci, underscored the strategic intent, saying, "China is the world’s most dynamic and innovative automotive market." NBHX Chairman Zhou Xiaofeng also commented on industry trends, saying the "rapid development of advanced autonomous driving and intelligent chassis technologies is bringing opportunities to the industry."
The joint venture remains conditional on completion of the usual regulatory approvals before it can be finalized.
About the Sensify platform
Brembo unveiled Sensify in 2021. The system is described as a fluid-free, by-wire intelligent braking platform that can operate independently on each of a vehicle's four wheels. It is designed to be integrated into software-defined vehicle architectures, offering electronic control of braking functions without conventional hydraulic fluid.
Customer and market links
Ningbo Huaxiang's existing client roster includes Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. Brembo's current supply relationships include Tesla, Ferrari and Maserati from Stellantis' portfolio.
The companies did not disclose additional commercial terms, specific timeline milestones for the joint venture, or the identity of any initial Chinese customers for Sensify as part of the announcement.
Next steps
The partnership now moves into a phase where regulatory approvals must be obtained for completion. Beyond regulatory clearance, further details on implementation, production ramp-up and customer rollout were not provided in the statement.
For investors and industry observers, the deal links a European braking technology developer with a Chinese components maker that already supplies a wide range of international automakers, and ties the Sensify product to the evolving software-defined and autonomous vehicle environment in China.