What Telma does

Telma S.A.S. is a French privately held industrial manufacturer founded in 1946, headquartered in Saint-Ouen l'Aumône in the Paris region, specializing in friction-free electromagnetic braking systems for commercial vehicles and industrial applications. The company designs, manufactures, and sells electromagnetic eddy-current retarders based on the physical principle of electromagnetic induction: rotors spinning within a magnetic field generate eddy currents that produce braking torque via Laplace forces, with no physical friction between components. Telma operates two core product lines — the AXIAL series (retarders mounted in interface with transmission shafts, with torques ranging from 1800 to 3600 Nm for 32-44 tonne vehicles) and the FOCAL® series (retarders mounted at transmission output or axle input for short-wheelbase tractors and rear-engine coaches) — plus a proprietary accessories ecosystem including the iRCS electronic control unit (ISO 26262 ASIL compliant), CAN Adaptor (ISO 11898, SAE J1939), BAC contactor boxes, CBV low-speed cutoffs, and driver-actuated handles and pressure-switch ramps.

Telma generates revenue through hardware sales via two go-to-market motions. The primary motion is OEM-embedded factory installation with seven major European commercial vehicle manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Scania, Volvo, DAF, Renault Trucks, Iveco), where Telma retarders are specified as standard or optional equipment on trucks, buses, and coaches. The secondary motion is a global distributor and authorized-installer network serving the retrofit aftermarket for vehicles already in service, complemented by wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries BFH (Germany, 1959), TRL (United Kingdom, 1959), and MATELI S.A. (Spain, 1968 with manufacturing near Pamplona), and a 2026 Indonesian distribution partnership with PT Sales Service Teknika Indonesia. Customer segments span passenger transport (coaches, buses, minibuses, recreational vehicles), goods transport (distribution trucks, road and construction trucks, dangerous goods ADR-compliant vehicles), special vehicles (crane trucks, waste collection, armored transport, ambulances, mining and agricultural vehicles), and industrial applications (test benches, elevators, funiculars, wind turbines). The company employs 101-250 staff across engineering, R&D, production, quality, logistics, and commercial functions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and the company is not listed, with registered share capital of €4,124,370.

Name

Telma

Legal name

Telma S.A.S.

Website

https://telma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Telma S.A.S., founded in 1946 in France, manufactures friction-free electromagnetic eddy-current retarders (AXIAL and FOCAL® series) and electronic control accessories for OEM factory installation on commercial vehicles and for global retrofit distribution, serving truck, bus, and coach manufacturers across Europe with recent expansion into Indonesia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Vehicle Braking Systems

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Truck Telematics, ADAS & Fleet Electronics Manufacturing (IMACABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bus & Coach Electrical/Electronics & Telematics Manufacturing (IMACADAK)

Keywords

• Electromagnetic retarders
• Commercial vehicle braking
• Eddy current brakes
• Friction-free braking systems
• Heavy truck safety equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-ouen-l'aumone

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electromagnetic Retarder Sales: Telma generates revenue primarily through the sale of electromagnetic retarders, both as original equipment to vehicle manufacturers and as replacement/retrofit units to end customers through distributors.
2. Accessories and Components: Sale of accessories including iRCS control units, CAN adaptors, BAC contactor boxes, CBV low-speed cutoffs, levers, and pneumatic brake ramps specifically designed for Telma retarder integration.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Telma designs, manufactures and sells friction-free electromagnetic retarders (AXIAL and FOCAL® series) and related electronic control accessories for commercial vehicles, special vehicles, passenger transport and certain industrial applications. The products are sold as OEM equipment to vehicle manufacturers and through a worldwide distributor network for retrofit installation, providing endurance braking without friction-based wear.

Product overview

Telma is a world leader in friction-free electromagnetic braking systems, offering two main product lines: the AXIAL retarder series (mounted in interface with transmission shafts) and the FOCAL® retarder series (mounted at transmission output or axle input). The product portfolio includes complementary accessories including the iRCS electronic control unit, CAN Adaptor, BAC switching box, CBV low-speed cut-off, driver handles, and pressure switch ramps. All products are based on the physical principle of electromagnetic induction, generating eddy currents in rotors to produce braking torque without friction. The technology provides safety, comfort, environmental, and economic benefits for commercial vehicles, special vehicles, passenger transport, and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FOCAL®: Electromagnetic retarder designed for gearbox or axle output mounting, specifically for short wheelbase tractors and rear-engine coaches
• Telma-Light
• Telmatic

Products and services

• AXIAL Retarder Series Electromagnetic retarders designed to be mounted in interface with a transmission shaft, offering versatile installation possibilities for various heavy commercial vehicle applications, for vehicle OEMs and retrofit distributors.
• FOCAL® Retarder Series Electromagnetic retarders designed to be adapted at transmission output or axle input, specially built for short wheelbase tractors and rear-engine coaches, mountable on transmission output or directly on the axle; includes Telma-Light, FV6, FN8, FN7 and FN5 models for commercial vehicle OEMs and retrofit distributors.
• iRCS (integrated Retarder Control System) Electronic control unit integrating command and power functions in a single module, optimized for use with Telma retarders, compatible with CAN BUS networks and electronic braking systems (ABS, ESP, EBS, Speed Controller, Automatic Gearbox Control); meets ISO 26262 ASIL.
• CAN Adaptor Electronic interface device for the vehicle CAN bus (ISO 11898, SAE J1939), enabling multiplexing of analog signals from a handle, pressure switch ramp or dashboard indicator light for full integration of Telma retarders with electronic braking systems such as ABS or ESP.
• BAC (Boîte A Contacteurs) contactor box Switch box that ensures switching of the electrical power supply of the retarder power stages, sold as an accessory to Telma retarders for commercial vehicle OEMs and retrofit installations.
• CBV (Coupure Basse Vitesse) low-speed cut-off Low-speed cut-off accessory that prevents unnecessary power supply to the retarder when the vehicle is stationary, preserving the electrical systems of both the vehicle and the retarder.
• Manette (Handle Control) Handle control that allows the driver to directly pilot the Telma retarder and to activate the downhill speed regulation function, available in diverse models to integrate with different dashboard configurations.
• Rampe de Manocontacts (Pressure Switch Ramp) Ramp integrating with the vehicle's pneumatic braking network to automatically and progressively control retarder activation via the brake pedal, with each ramp calibrated to a specific vehicle configuration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 10x longer brake pad and shoe life
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, historical and minor.

• PT Sales Service Teknika IndonesiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 June 2026Indonesian distributor partnership for market entry in Southeast Asia. First installation completed on Mercedes-Benz bus operated by U-Trans, accumulating over 35,000 km in service.
• ZF FriedrichshafencoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman transmission manufacturer validated mounting of Telma FOCAL® retarders on their product lines (AK/S6-70 and subsequent models), enabling broader market adoption for rear-engine coach applications.
• SAVIEMcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFrench vehicle manufacturer for whom Telma developed the first FOCAL® retarder (Focal 115) in 1969 for the Saviem E7 rear-engine coach, marking the entry of FOCAL® into series production.
• BFH (Bremsen und Filter Handelsgesellschaft)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman subsidiary established in 1959 near Stuttgart for distribution and technical support in the German market.
• TRL (TELMA Retarder Ltd)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK subsidiary established in the late 1950s in London for distribution and technical support in the United Kingdom market.
• MATELI S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish subsidiary established in 1968 with production facility near Pamplona and distribution center in Madrid to serve the Iberian Peninsula.
• LabinalhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Telma (Electro-Mécanique de l'Aveyron, later renamed ELMA) from 1946, originally distributing the first Sarazin-designed retarders under the Labinal group before acquiring exclusive license rights.
• Europe TransmissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in 1969 to develop the Eurotelma axle-retarder for trailers and semi-trailers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Voith: Voith is a direct competitor in commercial vehicle retarders, primarily via its hydrodynamic (fluid-based) retarder line. Both companies supply OEM retarders to major European truck and bus manufacturers, making Voith the closest functional substitute to Telma's electromagnetic technology.
• Knorr-Bremse: Knorr-Bremse is a global leader in commercial vehicle braking systems, supplying air brakes, ABS/EBS, and related subsystems to the same European truck and bus OEMs as Telma. It competes by offering integrated braking platforms that can subsume retarder functionality.
• Haldex: Haldex specializes in commercial vehicle braking and air management components, including brake adjusters and foundation brake parts. It serves the same European truck OEMs as Telma and competes in adjacent braking subcategories.
• Jacobs Vehicle Systems: Jacobs Vehicle Systems (a division of Cummins) manufactures engine retarders using compression-release braking for heavy-duty trucks. It competes with Telma in the engine- and driveline-based retarder category serving similar commercial vehicle customers.

Broad incumbents

• ZF Friedrichshafen: ZF is both a Telma partner (validating FOCAL retarder mounting on ZF transmissions) and a broad incumbent supplying commercial vehicle driveline and braking systems, including the WABCO portfolio. ZF competes with integrated drivetrain-and-braking solutions versus Telma's standalone retarder approach.
• WABCO (ZF): WABCO, now part of ZF, is a leading supplier of braking, stability, and air management systems for commercial vehicles. It competes with Telma in the broader commercial vehicle braking electronics category and is embedded with the same European OEMs.
• Bosch: Bosch is a broad automotive Tier 1 supplying commercial vehicle braking components, ABS/EBS modules, and electronic control units that overlap with Telma's iRCS and CAN adaptor product space. Its scale and OEM relationships make it a long-term competitive threat.
• Continental: Continental supplies braking systems, sensors, and electronic control units to commercial vehicle OEMs globally. It competes with Telma across the broader vehicle electrical and electronic equipment category, including integrated braking solutions.
• Brembo: Brembo is a global braking systems supplier expanding from passenger cars and high-performance vehicles into commercial vehicle applications. While its primary brand is in friction braking, its growing commercial vehicle portfolio overlaps with Telma's customer base.

Emerging players

• Allison Transmission: Allison Transmission is a leading manufacturer of automatic transmissions for commercial vehicles, including hybrid and electric drivetrain solutions. It is an emerging adjacent competitor as integrated drivetrain-and-retarder offerings become more common in electrified trucks and buses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Telma_retarder
• Facebookfacebook.com/telma.retarders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/telma-retarder-inc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Telma