Knorr-Bremse, a global leader in braking systems and safety-critical solutions for rail and commercial vehicles, has reinforced its long-standing partnership with one of the world’s leading truck manufacturers through a major extension of its Electronic Levelling Control (ELC) supply agreement. Under the renewed contract, Knorr-Bremse will continue to supply approximately 200,000 ELC systems per year for the customer’s truck programs in the coming years. The agreement, which has been in place since 2007, has now been extended until 2033, highlighting the truck manufacturer’s long-term confidence in Knorr-Bremse’s technology, product reliability, and system expertise.
The order volume associated with the extended agreement is valued in the lower triple-digit million-euro range, underlining the commercial importance of the partnership for Knorr-Bremse and its Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) division. The renewed contract covers both the continued production of existing truck series and the next-generation vehicle platform currently under development, ensuring continuity of supply and technological alignment well into the next decade.
A partnership built on nearly two decades of trust
Knorr-Bremse has been supplying Electronic Levelling Control systems to the truck manufacturer for almost twenty years. Over this period, ELC technology has evolved significantly, benefitting from continuous engineering enhancements, software refinements, and close collaboration with vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators. The decision to extend the partnership through 2033 reflects not only the technical maturity of the system, but also its proven performance in real-world operations across a wide range of applications and operating environments.
Bernd Spies, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and globally responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Systems division, emphasized the importance of the agreement and the long-term nature of the collaboration. “We have been supplying our customers with our Electronic Levelling Control systems for almost two decades. Since then, the system has undergone continuous development and proven its worth – and fleet operators appreciate its flexibility, safety, and economy in daily use. We are very pleased to continue this long-standing, trusting partnership and to equip the trucks of the future with our ELC systems,” Spies said.
His remarks highlight how ELC has moved beyond being a purely functional component to become a value-adding system that directly supports fleet efficiency, driver comfort, and operational safety. This long-term renewal also signals the strategic role that electronic chassis and suspension control systems will continue to play as commercial vehicles become increasingly automated, connected, and efficiency-focused.
Scope of supply and production volumes
Under the terms of the extended agreement, Knorr-Bremse will supply around 200,000 Electronic Levelling Control systems annually. These systems will be delivered in three different model sizes, allowing the truck manufacturer to deploy ELC solutions across multiple vehicle classes and configurations. This scalable approach ensures that vehicles ranging from lighter distribution trucks to heavy long-haul models can benefit from the same core technology, adapted to their specific load and performance requirements.
The contract covers both current vehicle generations and the manufacturer’s next truck platform, which is expected to incorporate more advanced electronic architectures and a greater degree of system integration. By securing ELC supply for both existing and future platforms, the customer ensures technological consistency and reduces complexity in development, validation, and aftersales support.
For Knorr-Bremse, the agreement provides long-term planning security and reinforces its position as a trusted system partner for major global truck OEMs. It also supports ongoing investment in research and development, enabling further enhancements in ELC functionality, software intelligence, and system integration.
Electronic Levelling Control: a high-performance system for modern trucks
The extended partnership strongly underscores the continued relevance and performance of Electronic Levelling Control in modern truck operations. ELC is designed to automatically adapt the vehicle’s ride height and suspension behavior to changing load conditions and operating environments. By doing so, it delivers a combination of driving comfort, operational flexibility, enhanced safety, and improved resource efficiency.
In daily operations, trucks are exposed to constantly changing loads, uneven road surfaces, and varying weather conditions. ELC continuously monitors these factors and adjusts the air suspension accordingly, ensuring that the vehicle maintains an optimal ride height and balanced axle loads. This automated compensation plays a critical role in maintaining vehicle stability, particularly when trucks are heavily loaded or operating on uneven terrain.
One of the most practical advantages of ELC is its ability to compensate for height differences between the truck’s loading area and loading ramps. This feature simplifies and accelerates loading and unloading processes, reducing the need for manual adjustments and minimizing the risk of damage to goods, vehicles, or infrastructure. For logistics operators, this translates into faster turnaround times and improved efficiency at depots and distribution centers.
Enhancing safety, traction, and driving stability
Beyond logistics efficiency, Electronic Levelling Control makes a significant contribution to road safety. By distributing loads evenly across the axles, ELC helps ensure consistent tire contact with the road surface. This improves traction and braking performance, particularly in challenging conditions such as snow, ice, or wet roads.
Improved traction is especially valuable during start-off on slippery surfaces, where uneven axle loads can lead to wheel slip and reduced controllability. By automatically optimizing axle load distribution, ELC enhances vehicle stability and supports safer driving behavior, even under adverse conditions.
Driving stability at higher speeds and during cornering is another key benefit. A correctly leveled suspension reduces body roll and improves steering response, making the vehicle more predictable and easier to control. For drivers, this translates into greater confidence behind the wheel and reduced fatigue during long shifts.
Protecting components and reducing operating costs
Electronic Levelling Control also contributes to the long-term durability of vehicle components. By maintaining optimal suspension geometry and avoiding excessive stress on individual air suspension bellows, ELC helps protect critical components from premature wear. This can lead to longer service intervals, reduced maintenance costs, and improved vehicle availability for fleet operators.
In addition, optimized ride height and aerodynamic behavior can have a positive impact on fuel consumption. When a truck maintains the correct ground clearance for its load and driving conditions, aerodynamic drag is reduced, particularly at highway speeds. Over the lifetime of a vehicle and across large fleets, even small improvements in fuel efficiency can result in significant cost savings and lower CO₂ emissions.
These economic and environmental benefits align closely with the broader industry trend toward more sustainable commercial vehicle operations. As fleet operators face increasing pressure to reduce emissions and operating costs, systems like ELC play an important role in delivering measurable efficiency gains without compromising performance or safety.
Supporting the trucks of the future
The extension of the ELC supply contract until 2033 also reflects the growing importance of electronic control systems in the evolution of commercial vehicles. As trucks become more connected and increasingly rely on software-driven functions, systems such as Electronic Levelling Control are expected to integrate even more closely with other vehicle subsystems, including braking, steering, and advanced driver assistance systems.
Knorr-Bremse’s long-standing expertise in safety-critical systems positions the company well to support this transformation. Continuous development of ELC technology ensures compatibility with modern electronic architectures and provides a foundation for future enhancements, such as predictive suspension control or integration with digital fleet management solutions.
For the truck manufacturer, the extended partnership ensures access to a proven, high-performance ELC system that can evolve alongside future vehicle platforms. For Knorr-Bremse, it reinforces its role as a strategic partner to the global commercial vehicle industry, delivering technologies that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
A clear signal of long-term confidence
Overall, the renewal of the Electronic Levelling Control supply agreement through 2033 sends a strong signal of long-term confidence between Knorr-Bremse and one of the world’s leading truck manufacturers. Built on nearly two decades of collaboration, the partnership demonstrates how continuous innovation, reliable performance, and close customer relationships can create lasting value in a highly competitive industry.
By continuing to supply around 200,000 ELC systems annually, Knorr-Bremse will help equip current and future truck generations with technology that improves safety, efficiency, and comfort in everyday operation. As the commercial vehicle sector continues to evolve, Electronic Levelling Control remains a key enabling technology—delivering tangible benefits for manufacturers, fleet operators, drivers, and the environment alike.
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