WABCO Vehicle Control Systems

The Westinghouse Air Brake Company was founded in the U.S. in 1869 and acquired by American Standard in 1968. It was designated as American Standards' Vehicle Control Systems division. The earthmoving and mining product range was sold to Dresser Industries in 1984. American Standard changed its name to Trane, Inc. and on July 31, 2007, Trane spun off its Vehicle Control Systems as WABCO Holdings, Inc. via a special dividend to its shareholders. The owners of Trane, Inc. stock received one share of WABCO Holdings for every three shares of Trane, Inc. which they held. Trane, Inc. was acquired by Ingersoll-Rand the following year.

Previously headquartered in Bern, Switzerland (having moved from Brussels, Belgium in February 2019), WABCO employed more than 11000 people in 34 countries worldwide. In 2013, WABCO's total sales were $2,720.5 million, a rise of 10% over the previous year. WABCO was a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange as WABCO Holdings, Inc., with the stock symbol WBC.

Acquisition by ZF Friedrichshafen

On February 27, 2019, WABCO's stock price increased 8% on rumors of a takeover bid by a competitor and trading in the stock was suspended. The following day, a trade publication reported that WABCO had confirmed that it had "been approached" by German auto parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen and was "engaged in preliminary discussions concerning a potential transaction.”

On March 28, 2019, ZF Friedrichshafen announced plans to acquire WABCO for $136.50 per share ($7 billion) in an all-cash transaction. The offer represented a 13% premium above WABCO's February 26 stock price, according to The Wall Street Journal. WABCO shareholders approved the acquisition in July 2019.

In January 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice raised concerns about the market power that the combined entity would have if the acquisition was allowed to proceed. In a news release, a Justice Department spokesman said: “The merger, as originally structured, would have given ZF a monopoly over an essential steering systems component used in trucks and buses that move products and people across the United States.” WABCO was required to divest the steering systems business in order to proceed with the transaction.

The companies reached a settlement with the Department of Justice, and ZF completed the $7 billion takeover in May 2020.

On 29 May 2020, WABCO was acquired by ZF Friedrichshafen through a merger agreement and thereafter became the Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division of ZF.

Notable products

WABCO Holdings' key product groups are brake actuators, air compressor/air management, foundation brake, anti-lock braking, conventional braking, electronic braking, air suspension, transmission automation, vehicle electronic architecture and stability control/support.

Markets

Major customers for WABCO Holdings are commercial and consumer vehicle OEMs and commercial after-market parts suppliers. Commercial truck and bus OEMs - such as Daimler (largest customer; 13% of sales, 2010), Cummins, Paccar, and Volvo - account for the majority of sales (62% of sales, 2013). Commercial after-market suppliers represent a significant minority of sales (25% of sales, 2013). Trailer and consumer vehicle OEMs also contribute a small percentage of sales.

WABCO Holdings primary market is in Europe (61% of sales, 2013). They get some business from Asia/Pacific region and much less from other regions of the world.

North America Vehicle Control System and some compressor sales and support are provided by a joint venture (JV) with Meritor Inc. (formerly Rockwell Automotive) while Disc Brake sales and higher margin compressor sales are handled directly by offices in Rochester Hills, MI and Charleston, SC.