July 14, 2026
Ford Trucks favors retarder technology from Driventic
HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY. With its F-LINE series launched in the summer of 2024 and the latest generation F-MAX GEN 2.0, Ford Trucks is aiming to further expand its market share in Germany. The focus is on mid-sized companies with smaller fleets and the construction industry. For this purpose, the company is relying on Driventic’s retarder technology and is thus building on a successful concept. Driventic, the meanwhile independent spin-off from parts of the drive systems division of international technology group Voith, was already Ford’s exclusive partner for the F-MAX series launched in 2021. The retarders are used in the Ecotorq transmission developed and manufactured in-house by the commercial vehicle manufacturer.
For many years, the hydrodynamic retarders developed by Voith/Driventic have enabled buses and trucks to perform around 90 percent of all braking operations without wear. Thanks to their continuous braking function, the retarders reduce the stress on service brakes and thus cut the costs for spare parts and maintenance.
In addition, they offer a significant safety advantage for everyday vehicle use. In demanding operations such as adaptive braking on the highway or long downhill stretches, conventional friction brakes can quickly reach temperatures of up to 1,000°C, which causes their braking effect to drop rapidly. When braking with the retarder, however, the service brakes remain cool during normal driving and can operate at full capacity in emergency situations. This is why continuous brakes are now required by law in buses and trucks throughout Europe.
At the same time, the retarder also offers economic advantages – and not only because the longer operating life of the service brakes means fewer visits to the workshop and therefore lower maintenance costs. Retarders also allow vehicles to operate at higher and more consistent average speeds. This increases payload capacity, which in turn improves the efficiency of buses and trucks.
More consistent speeds also mean lower fuel consumption and consequently, more environmentally friendly driving. Incidentally, in this conjunction, a retarder not only prevents CO2 emissions, but also 80 percent of all brake dust emissions.
Like all Driventic retarders, those used in the new F-LINE models are a low-weight design. This allows vehicle operators to make optimum use of payload limits. Ford Trucks offers a total of three segments in this product line, each with several variants: tow trucks, construction trucks, and road trucks. These are all customized to the needs of the specific segments and are also available with 13 liter engines (Euro 6) and with Driventic retarders as an option.
More information on the R 115CT retarder and further innovations from Driventic: Live at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover from September 14–20 (Hall 11 / Booth B06).
Contact
Sebastian Busch
Vice President Brand & Communications
Phone +49 7321 746 2052
Highlights at a glance
Driventic is the exclusive partner of Ford Trucks for the supply of retarders.
Retarder technology from Driventic makes vehicle operation more efficient and environmentally friendly.
More than 10,000 Ford Trucks fitted with Driventic R 115CT retarders have already been delivered since 2021.
:quality(80):no_upscale())
The Driventic R 115CT retarder is a step-up retarder with a high braking torque. It has a self-contained oil supply system and is integrated into the vehicle’s braking management system. In conjunction with the service brakes, it ensures optimal braking action. At the same time, the retarder increases ride comfort, for example through the v-constant function, which keeps speed constant downhill as a form of “downhill cruise control”, without the additional use of the service brakes.