Xu Baoping: From the Chinese Market to the Global Market, Knorr Grows Together with Chinese Commercial Vehicle Companies

At the 2026 Hannover International Transport Expo (IAA Transportation 2026), Chinese commercial vehicle companies became one of the most eye-catching core forces at the show. Several leading Chinese automakers concentrated on displaying new-generation complete vehicle products, fully covering NEW ENERGY, high-level intelligentization, and multiple powertrain routes.

As Chinese automakers accelerate their globalization, leading supply chain companies that have long served the global commercial vehicle industry are also redefining the way they participate in international competition and empower customers. During the show, Knorr (Knorr-Bremse) showcased a digital service platform (CVS Service Platform) composed of diagnostic analysis, fleet services, maintenance support, and software tools.

Xu Baoping, Chairman of the Executive Board of Knorr Asia-Pacific, was interviewed by Jiang Kunyuan, Editor-in-Chief of Transport People Network, and shared his views on Chinese companies going global, electrification and intelligentization, and Knorr's own global layout.

What impression did Chinese companies' participation in the Hannover Motor Show leave on you?

Xu Baoping: The participation of Chinese companies in the Hannover Motor Show this time indeed attracted great attention from the global, especially European, commercial vehicle industry.

I have also talked with many European colleagues. In the past, Chinese companies mostly came to the Hannover Motor Show to visit and tour; this year, Chinese automakers began to truly participate and display their latest models and technologies. This change has attracted great attention from the commercial vehicle industry in Europe and even globally.

As Chinese commercial vehicle companies accelerate electrification and intelligentization, what corresponding supporting products and technologies does Knorr currently have?

Xu Baoping: From the industry's general perception, Chinese automakers, whether in passenger vehicles or commercial vehicles, have moved relatively fast in electrification and intelligentization. Knorr has also maintained deep cooperation with Chinese automakers in these fields.

From electric air compressors to electric vehicle energy recovery, we have relatively deep cooperation with many leading Chinese commercial vehicle companies exhibiting at this show.

At the same time, when Chinese commercial vehicle companies enter the European market, they face not only product electrification itself, but also a very important issue: how to establish an after-sales service network and provide corresponding diagnostic solutions.

Knorr has already established a relatively complete service network in the global market, especially in mature European markets. The Spanish company Cojali, which we previously controlled, also has relatively complete capabilities in independent diagnostic equipment and related solutions.

Therefore, for Chinese automakers going global, what Knorr hopes to provide is not only products, but also after-sales business, service networks, and diagnostic capabilities, so as to build a more complete service foundation for Chinese automakers entering overseas markets.

At present, Jaltest under Cojali has formed a multi-brand commercial vehicle diagnostic solution for the global market. During IAA 2026, Knorr also further demonstrated the synergy between Cojali's diagnostic capabilities and its own digital service system.

In the process of Chinese commercial vehicles developing toward electrification and gradually going overseas, what advantageous system solutions can Knorr provide?

Xu Baoping: The braking system has always been one of Knorr's most core businesses. In the era of electrification, one of our important advantages is the synergy between towing vehicle braking and energy recovery.

At this show, leading Chinese trailer companies also displayed electric trailers. As both towing vehicles and trailers enter the electrification stage, how to achieve better towing vehicle-trailer matching, ensure safety, and at the same time provide better energy recovery solutions has become even more important. This is also an important direction of cooperation between Knorr and leading Chinese complete vehicle companies.

In addition to braking systems, energy recovery, and towing vehicle-trailer matching, we can also provide corresponding solutions in electric air compressors as well as electric vehicle maintenance and service networks.

It should be noted that in the European market, not only does the complete vehicle itself need to meet regulatory requirements; after-sales networks and diagnostics are also subject to strict requirements.

Therefore, Knorr Commercial Vehicle Systems has formed in China a series of capabilities ranging from component supply and complete vehicle matching to after-sales service and diagnostic networks, and hopes to use these to carry out more comprehensive cooperation with Chinese complete vehicle companies and support Chinese commercial vehicles in competing in the global market.

At this IAA, Knorr further demonstrated its technology layout at the system level. Among them, the GSBC brake control platform has incorporated requirements such as electric vehicle energy recovery, redundant braking, and cybersecurity into its technical architecture; the CVS Service Platform further covers applications such as diagnostics, fleet services, and maintenance services.

As commercial vehicles develop toward premiumization and intelligentization, which capabilities will Knorr focus on strengthening in the future?

Xu Baoping: In addition to commercial vehicle braking systems, there are two very important directions for complete vehicle intelligent control.

One is suspension, and Knorr already has products related to intelligent suspension control; the other is steering. At this exhibition stand, we also displayed an electric EPS steering system, which is planned to be put into production in the European market next year. In the commercial vehicle field, Knorr will become one of the earlier system suppliers to drive EPS into large-scale production.

From the perspective of complete vehicle solutions, we usually summarize them into the three dimensions of X, Y, and Z, with corresponding system solutions in different directions.

At the same time, Knorr has always remained prudent in investing in future businesses and has long adhered to its core businesses. Since going public in 2018, we have continued to regularly publish financial reports and related performance information, and have maintained a relatively healthy financial position.

Healthy operations enable us to continue investing in future technologies and grow together with customers. Therefore, we hope to become a long-term, reliable partner in the globalization process of Chinese commercial vehicles, and this cooperation will not only be in the Chinese market, but will also extend to the global market.

Commentary by Transport People Network:

After Chinese commercial vehicles going overseas enter the stage of large-scale competition, the globalization capability of the supply chain is becoming part of the competitiveness of complete vehicle companies. Especially in mature markets such as Europe, passing regulatory certification is only the first step; after vehicles enter operation, fault diagnosis, maintenance efficiency, parts supply, and service coverage will also affect fleet procurement decisions and long-term brand performance.

Knorr's advantage lies in further connecting traditional component capabilities with global service resources. For Chinese commercial vehicle companies accelerating their overseas layout, Knorr is not only a component supplier that empowers chassis safety, but also an important strategic partner that helps them cross overseas compliance and service gaps and achieve sustainable globalization.