Schaeffler has been has been selected as one of 60 partners to be involved in Volkswagen’s Future Automotive Supply Tracks (FAST) program out of a pool of 4,000 suppliers. Criteria for evaluation included strategic relevance, performance and innovative strength. The company is known for supplying precision components and systems for engines, transmissions, and chassis as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions.
The FAST program creates a framework to ensure that, together, both companies work closely together to face the challenge of increasingly complex technologies and faster innovation cycles while developing collaborative solutions. Volkswagen uses this initiative to ensure its most important suppliers are involved in a strategic dialog at an early stage according to the company.
According to the company, Schaeffler has partnered with VW over the years on many projects in the areas of engine, transmission and chassis systems. Schaeffler began carrying out basic research into hybridization and electric mobility years ago and now has an accordingly extensive product range with comprehensive system solutions. The range extends from 48-volt hybrid modules through to powerful high-voltage drive concepts, such as electric drive axles.
“We are proud to be part of this select circle”, says Matthias Zink, CEO automotive of Schaeffler AG. “This is confirmation for Schaeffler that it is optimally positioned in terms of the automotive future and increasingly complex drive architectures.”