Supplier ZF is showcasing its latest developments for public transport at the UITP (Union Internationale des Transports Publics) Summit from June 15 to 18, 2025, in Hamburg. The event is considered to be the "world's most important congress for public transport," according to its own statements, and brings together more than 10,000 professionals from the field, including from transport companies, authorities, industrial suppliers, and policymakers worldwide. The technology group will present the current generation of its electric central and axle drives, a new air compressor, ADAS safety systems, solutions from the field of automated driving, and digital fleet management systems.
The Innovations in Detail
- The electric central drive CeTrax 2 from ZF will be presented to a worldwide audience for the first time. With a continuous power of 210 kW and a maximum torque of 8,720 Nm, CeTrax 2 is particularly
- suitable for buses with a total weight of up to 19 tons.
- The low-floor e-axle AxTrax 2 LF, like CeTrax 2, utilizes the E-drive modular system and replaces the current AxTrax AVE model. Compared to this, it requires around 20 percent less energy and, according to ZF, can help reduce total operating costs.
- The electric air compressor from ZF, e-comp Scroll, makes its debut at the UITP Congress. It operates on the principle of scroll compressors with low noise and vibration, which is a great advantage for e-commercial vehicles. Additionally, it requires no oil, significantly reducing maintenance needs, it is stated.
New ADAS System Citybus CMS for Increased Traffic Safety
Citybus CMS is a braking assistance system for city buses, building on the in-house ADAS system On-Guard-Max. It actively warns and brakes to mitigate the consequences of a potential collision, thereby
exceeding existing safety standards, according to reports. To best protect standing and unsecured passengers during a braking maneuver, ZF has developed a special "braking cascade." According to reports, several manufacturers are already using the system in their vehicles.
Automated Driving and Driverless Public Transport: Digital Solutions and Technologies
The digital fleet solution for city buses ZF Bus Connect as a comprehensive networking solution will also be showcased in Hamburg. The focus is on new possibilities for uptime management in electric buses – with analyses of the powertrain and battery status as well as cross-system condition monitoring and remote diagnostics options for remote diagnosis.
According to its own statements, ZF Mobility Solution supports cities and transport companies on their way to autonomous public transport with engineering and consulting services – from tendering to implementation. At UITP, the company plans to provide insights
into customer projects and share experiences with the approval and operation of SAE Level 4 vehicles.
ZF has departed from its original plan to develop its own autonomous vehicles like shuttles and is instead working on corresponding digital components and technologies.
The annual UITP Summit claims a 140-year tradition. In 2023, the public transport congress was held in Barcelona and the following year again in Hamburg. For the next in 2026, Dubai has been announced as the venue. In 2023, Barcelona counted more than 10,000 participants from 110 countries, as well as 335 exhibitors and 250 journalists. Hosts of the event include, among others, the Hamburger Hochbahn, the VW technology company for fully electric mobility solutions Moia, as well as the Hamburg Messe + Congress. The summit is supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the Hamburg
