Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announced today, Jan. 5, the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the VORAD (Vehicle On-board Radar) system from Eaton Corp. for an undisclosed amount. Bendix says the transaction – which closed Dec. 31 – immediately incorporates the assets associated with VORAD operations to become a part of its electronics business unit.
Bendix says the move will complement its other safety technologies such as the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program and Bendix Adaptive Cruise Control. In connection with the transaction, Eaton’s Roadranger marketing organization has entered into an agreement with Bendix to market and support the VORAD system in the North American marketplace.
“Every Bendix employee is passionate about improving the safety on our nation’s highways; about reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries in commercial vehicle-related accidents; and about providing an economic payback to our end-users, through a complete range of active safety systems,” says Joe McAleese, president and chief executive officer of Elyria, Ohio-based Bendix. “This move is another important step in our overall business growth plan.”
The VORAD Collision Warning System – featuring Smartcruise technology – is designed to employ warnings that alert the driver to objects up to 500 feet ahead of the vehicle, even around curves, and can track up to 20 vehicles at a time. In addition, radar-based Blindspotter and Backspotter technologies also can help warn the driver of objects to the side and/or rear of the vehicle. VORAD is used by original equipment manufacturers, major trucking fleets and specialty vehicle manufacturers.
