ZF takes over smart tachograph manufacturer Intellic

The intelligent tachograph will become the digital linchpin to effectively manage commercial vehicles in the future. From autumn 2023, European manufacturers are required to install the next generation of smart tachographs in newly registered trucks. By 2024 at the latest, the technology will fully replace its analog predecessors.

The acquisition of Intellic is therefore another important step for ZF in advancing the strategy of "Next Generation Mobility" in the commercial vehicle industry.

"Smart tachographs are already established in fleet management. As trustworthy, legally regulated data interfaces, they play an increasingly important role in the ecosystem of road traffic,” said Hjalmar Van Raemdonck, Head of Digital System Solutions in the ZF Division Commercial Vehicle Solutions. “And with the integration of Intellic's intelligent tachograph technology into our telematics portfolio, ZF further expands its leading position as a 'one-stop-shop' for commercial vehicle manufacturers, fleets, and industry partners.”

'Black Box' for Logistics and Transportation

The next generation of intelligent tachographs opens up new possibilities in logistics as well as in optimizing road and fleet infrastructure. As the vehicle's 'Black Box', these devices combine verified data such as local times, precise real-time clocking, and a secure global satellite navigation system (GNSS), as well as an interface for intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

Thus, they are capable of serving as a "Connectivity Hub" to reliably and accurately capture and relay information from a multitude of vehicle sensors and data sources, including driver assistance systems (ADAS) and EBS signals. Updates can be installed flexibly and securely "over the air".