On August 26, the Driventic Newly Upgraded Hydraulic Retarder VR115CT+ Launch Conference, themed "Great Control, Smooth Journey," was held in Shanghai. Government leaders from Minhang District, industry customers, partners, frontline driver influencers, and mainstream media gathered to witness the significant debut of this new hydraulic retarder technology. The conference also reviewed the results of the "Re-Challenge Kunming-Mohan" extreme road test and the "Thousand-Mile Real Road" performance challenge. This event marks an important statement to the domestic commercial vehicle market following Driventic's independent brand operation and represents a new breakthrough in hydraulic retarder technology.

Rooted in Local Transport Scenarios, Validating Product Strength with Real-World Testing

　　Logistics transport faces complex and varied road conditions. Insufficient braking reliability, poor adaptability to operating conditions, and high maintenance costs have long constrained the safe and efficient operation of commercial vehicles. Grounded in the realities of China's transport industry, Driventic has moved beyond homogenized R&D approaches, insisting on driving product iteration through real-world freight scenarios. The company has focused its efforts on critical applications such as long-haul line-haul, mountainous heavy-load, green-channel and cold-chain, and high-frequency express transport, providing a clear direction for its technological upgrades.

　　During the conference, Chen Hongguo, Global Vice President of Driventic, President of Asia Pacific, and Managing Director of China, delivered a speech. He stated, "The commercial vehicle industry is undergoing profound transformation. 'Safety, reliability, and efficiency' remain the fundamental demands of logistics development. Following Driventic's independent operation, we have preserved the 160-year technological heritage of Voith while staying rooted in the needs of the Chinese market. We are demand-oriented, customer-centric, and continuing to expand our presence in both conventional energy and new energy sectors."

　　Hardcore product performance requires real-world verification. Zhang Xiao, Marketing Strategy Director for the Asia Pacific region, presented a special report on the results of the "Re-Challenge Kunming-Mohan" extreme road test and the "Thousand-Mile Real Road" performance challenge conducted from the 21st to the 26th. The entire test utilized a fully loaded 49-ton heavy truck, replicating the high-intensity operation of freight vehicles. On the 27-kilometer continuous downhill section of the Kunming-Mohan Expressway, the vehicle, without auxiliary water spray devices, relied entirely on the VR115CT+ to handle all auxiliary braking.

　　The test data showed that throughout the long descent, the vehicle's braking response was immediate and precise, with no lag or performance degradation. After the test, the brake hubs remained at normal temperatures, effectively avoiding the risks of overheating, performance fade, and even brake failure commonly associated with long downhill conditions. This fully demonstrates the new product's stable performance in extreme heavy-load, continuous braking scenarios and represents an iterative application of Driventic's century-old hydraulic retarder technology.

　　In addition to the Kunming-Mohan extreme test, Driventic also completed a real-vehicle, real-load, real-condition long-distance test from Mojiang to Shanghai, covering 2,636 kilometers. The route spanned from east to west, with a maximum elevation difference of nearly 2,000 meters, traversing various terrains including mountain slopes, hilly curves, plains, and tunnels. This covered the vast majority of line-haul logistics operating scenarios. The long-distance test results showed that in response to elevation changes and dynamic road conditions, the VR115CT+ retarder control unit responded rapidly, with braking torque precisely and intelligently adjusting to conditions, maintaining vehicle speed at a steady 55 km/h. The system operated fault-free and without overheating, ensuring safe transport for drivers across all terrains and operating conditions in long-haul logistics.

New Product Launch: Creating an Integrated Commercial Vehicle System Solution

　　Witnessed by all guests at the conference, the newly upgraded Driventic hydraulic retarder VR115CT+ was officially unveiled. The new model features a standard 4000 N·m maximum braking torque, a 14% improvement over the previous generation, and further optimized braking response time. It can replace over 90% of conventional service braking, keeping brake pads and hubs cool, thereby fundamentally mitigating the risks of thermal fade and brake failure caused by frequent braking.

　　For long-haul line-haul transport, it effectively reduces parts wear and maintenance costs. For mountainous routes with continuous descents, it further strengthens the safety line. For high-frequency green-channel and cold-chain operations, the intelligent constant-speed control ensures smooth descents, reducing driver workload. Leveraging the real-time monitoring and self-diagnostic capabilities of the MRCU control unit, along with a redundant safety pneumatic module, the VR115CT+ delivers precise and reliable braking output, effectively meeting the diverse transport needs of the domestic commercial vehicle market.

　　At the conference, Su Hongyun, Technical Vice President of Driventic China, provided a detailed explanation of the full product matrix covering both conventional and new energy sectors. Targeting manufacturers of trucks, buses, and off-highway machinery, Driventic is leveraging its established market presence in hydraulic retarders, integrating core products such as electric drive systems, the DIWA.8 automatic transmission, the SWR water-medium hydraulic retarder, and the LP560 two-stage compression air compressor. This enables the company to consistently deliver safe, energy-efficient, and highly reliable commercial vehicle system solutions to the industry. Looking to the future, Driventic will further expand its product line in the new energy drive sector, leveraging its century-old German technology to meet the Chinese market's demand for reliable and efficient drive and braking technologies in new energy commercial vehicles.

　　The launch of the newly upgraded hydraulic retarder VR115CT+ marks a key milestone in Driventic's brand independence journey, demonstrating its commitment to technology localization and product scenario adaptation. Going forward, Driventic will continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market, refine core technologies, enhance its product matrix, and iterate scenario-based solutions. With its deep technical heritage and stable, reliable product strength, Driventic aims to support the transformation and upgrading of the commercial vehicle industry, drive the domestic logistics sector towards higher quality, efficiency, and safety, and safeguard every freight journey with confidence.