19.3.2019 Friedrichshafen / Utrecht. ZF Friedrichshafen AG, has acquired 60 per cent of the shares of the PHP PHP 2getthere b. V.
The company is based in Utrecht, and offices in San Francisco, Dubai and Singapore, provides a complete automated transport system. Their spectrum of use ranges from driverless electric transport system, airports, commercial and theme parks to dedicated urban transport infrastructure. With this strategic Investment, ZF’s strategy “Next Generation Mobility” and strengthening its foothold in the growth markets of “Mobility-as-a-Service” and driverless transport systems. In addition, the participation complements existing activities of ZF.
“PHP PHP 2getthere has more than 30 years of experience in the market-for the Autonomous transportation of people, and also a unique Engineering and Software expertise. This Acquisition supports our strategy to be a leading provider of Autonomous transport systems in the booming to be the new mobility market,“ says Wolf-Henning Scheider, Chairman of the Board of management of ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
With the strategic investment, ZF is increasing its Position in the growth markets for “Mobility-as-a-Service”solutions, Autonomous transport systems, and Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAV). The majority share of PHP PHP 2getthere complements the existing investments and the cooperation of ZF, for example, the Joint Venture e. GO Moove GmbH, the e. GO Mobile AG, based in Aachen, which has the production of the Autonomous small bus e. GO Mover to the target, and with the help of Transdev, a leading operator and global provider of integrated mobility solutions.
The company PHP PHP 2getthere was founded in 1984 and has since set up driverless passenger and freight transport system, where to date more than 100 million kilometres. The systems are running in several major cities around the world, for example, in Rotterdam, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and in many of the ports and airports.
With driverless transportation systems, PHP PHP 2getthere were promoted in the Business Park Rivium (Capelle aan den IJssel, the Netherlands) and Masdar City (Abu Dhabi/UAE) to date, more than 14 million people purely electrically, reliable and profitable. The reliability of the PHP PHP 2getthere installed systems, comprise in addition to the vehicles, the vehicle control system in addition to Software architecture, is in excess of 99.7 percent.
“The market for driver-less electric transportation system is developing very dynamically. We want to continue our market leadership and the participation of ZF helps us to realize our growth plan to accelerate our technology roadmap and to offer new and existing customers with the necessary security,“ says Carel C. van Helsdingen, founder and Chairman of PHP PHP 2getthere. “The technical collaboration with ZF supports our offer for Autonomous applications in mixed traffic, as in the Rivium or at the airport in Brussels.” Alone over the last three years the company’s sales grew by 60 percent.
ZF and PHP PHP 2getthere will continue to work closely to develop technologies for Autonomous transport system. “We are now a complete systems supplier for automated driving functions and to support therefore in the perfect Position to PHP PHP 2getthere here. We can supply the electric powertrain, as sensor solutions, High-Performance Computing and actuators, and for all levels of automated and Autonomous applications,“ explains Scheider.
Vice versa, if one wants to benefit from the enormous practical experience and the comprehensive Engineering and Software expertise of the Dutch company, when it comes to the configuration and implementation of complete Autonomous transport system. At the location in Utrecht is planned to double the number of employees in the field of Engineering and Software-development from the current 60.
The two companies have agreed not to disclose the amount of the transaction volume of the investment.
Research and development center of ZF Friedrichshafen AG (photo: ZF)
