WBTL has secured two more mass-production programs for its electromechanical brake (EMB) system, bringing its total to four programs with expected combined lifetime sales above $300 million, the company reports. The new awards for Bethel Automotive Safety Systems (WBTL) cover hybrid SUVs, EV SUVs and EV sedans. The Wuhu-based Tier 1 also announced two European electronic parking brake (EPB) caliper programs this month, along with first-half figures showing more than 50,000 EMB units delivered.
Highlights
- Four EMB mass-production programs awarded to date, two of them new
- More than $300 million in expected combined lifetime sales from those programs, according to WBTL
- More than 50,000 EMB units delivered by the end of June 2026
- Two new European EPB caliper programs with a global automotive OEM
How Does WBTL’s EMB System Work?
WBTL’s EMB uses a purely electromechanical architecture with no hydraulic brake lines. The company lists these characteristics:
- Response time: a target of 100 ms or less under electronic control
- Wheel control: independent braking control at all four wheels
- Regenerative braking: coordination with regen to smooth braking and improve energy recovery
- Packaging: removing hydraulic lines gives more freedom in vehicle packaging and supports lighter, more integrated chassis designs
TÜV NORD has certified the system to ASIL D, the highest automotive functional safety level. WBTL says the certification supports its use in series-production vehicles.
From Validation to Volume
With four programs secured, WBTL says EMB is moving past technology validation toward broader vehicle applications and scalable production. According to the company’s first-half business highlights, EMB entered mass production during the first six months of 2026, and deliveries passed 50,000 units by the end of June.
WBTL has not named the automakers behind the four programs, and it has not disclosed start-of-production timing or volumes for the two new awards.
Two New EPB Programs in Europe
WBTL has also won two European programs with a global automotive OEM to develop and supply EPB calipers. The company did not name the customer. The awards expand WBTL’s presence in Europe and its electronic braking business.
Cumulative EPB caliper supply reached about 38.45 million units by the end of the first half of 2026, the company reports. WBTL also says it holds the largest EPB market share among Chinese-brand suppliers. Its overseas EPB business dates to 2022, when it won a program with an overseas automaker. That program entered mass production in 2024.
WBTL is also building out its European footprint:
- Frankfurt R&D center: opened in 2025 to support local customers and coordinate with the company’s R&D teams in China
- Morocco production base: facility planning is complete, and braking products are planned for future production to serve the European market
First-Half Results
WBTL reported first-half 2026 revenue of $883 million, up 21.46% from a year earlier. The company says it now runs 912 R&D programs following its acquisition of Yubei Steering, with 10 global R&D centers and about 2,000 R&D professionals. It is also investing in humanoid robotics components as a new growth area.
WBTL says it plans to keep developing braking, steering and other chassis technologies with automotive partners as the industry moves toward software-defined vehicles and intelligent chassis systems.
