ZF Friedrichshafen AG and the BMW Group have signed a long-term supply agreement in the field of passenger car drive systems. The core of the agreement is the supply and continued development of the 8-speed automatic transmission (8HP). The contract, worth several billion euros, runs until the late 2030s, ZF said.

This, ZF maintains, creates a solid foundation for open-technology and low-emission mobility of the future for both companies. As part of the partnership, the 8HP transmission kit will be continuously developed. The aim is to provide customers with the most powerful and efficient transmission that meets the requirements of future drive concepts.

“Together with BMW, we are sending a strong signal for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in an industry undergoing dynamic change,” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of ZF. “This agreement highlights the strategic importance of our 8-speed automatic transmission as a key technology for the transformation of drive systems.”

“The new agreement with BMW shows how important long-term planning horizons are for technological advancements,” said Sebastian Schmitt, Head of ZF's Electrified Drive Technologies division. “It creates clarity and stability for both companies and enables us to align the next generation of the 8HP specifically toward efficiency, performance, and long-term viability.”

ZF said the move strengthens its position as a system supplier and that such close collaboration will help ‘reduce risks in a rapidly changing market environment and lay the foundation for low emission mobility going forward’.