Brembo

Emilio Bombassei and Italo Breda established Brembo in Paladina, Italy, naming the company after the Brembo river, near where Bombassei previously lived. The company quickly focused on disc brakes, a technology then largely imported from the United Kingdom. Expansion continued through the 1980s, with Brembo supplying brakes to manufacturers including BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Porsche. In 1995, Brembo became a public company, listing on the Milan Stock Exchange.

The company expanded through acquisition in 2000, purchasing the UK-based racing brake and clutch manufacturer AP Racing, a former division of Automotive Products. Further expansion came in 2007 with the acquisition of the Automotive Brake Components division of Hayes Lemmerz for approximately €39.6 million, adding facilities in Homer, Michigan and Apodaca, Mexico, and 250 employees. In 2014, Brembo announced an €83-million expansion of its Michigan facility, and later that year, plans for a €32-million production facility projected to produce two million aluminum calipers annually, with operation expected by 2016 and full operation by the end of 2018.

By 2015, Brembo reported sales growth of 15% to €1.8 billion and a net profit increase of 45% to €129.1 million. Deputy chairman Matteo Tiraboschi also stated the company was exploring further acquisitions, focusing on the automotive and aviation sectors. As of 2019, Brembo operated in 14 countries worldwide, employing over 10,634 people across its Italian headquarters and branches in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US. In October 2024, Brembo acquired Öhlins Racing for $405 million.

Brembo specializes in performance braking systems and components, and conducts research on braking systems. The company offers over 1,300 products worldwide, including calipers, drums, rotors, and brake lines. Brembo controls the entire production system, from raw materials to distribution, and owns the foundries that produce its initial materials. The company holds both QS9000 and ISO 9001 certifications.

Brembo is the current braking systems provider for Formula One. The company also supplies the majority of MotoGP teams, having returned as a single brake package partner and supplier in 2016 after Gresini used Nissin brakes during the 2014 season. From 2012 to 2016, Brembo was the official brake supplier for the IndyCar Series, and in 2017, supplied calipers only. In 2018, Brembo supplied entire braking systems to all Spark Racing Technology Gen2 cars in Formula E.

Since 2005, Brembo has been an official brake caliper supplier for the GP2 Series and the FIA Formula 2 Championship. Since 2010, Brembo has been the official whole brake supplier for the GP3 Series and the FIA Formula 3 Championship. The company is also the exclusive supplier of braking systems for the MotoE World Cup. Brembo is a technology partner for the sim racing series Gran Turismo, offering in-game braking systems such as carbon-ceramic brakes and Brembo calipers.

Brembo owns several brands, including AP Racing (racing motorcycle and car clutches and brakes), ByBre (small to midsize scooter and motorcycle brakes in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and Southeast Asia), Marchesini (wheels), J.Juan (motorcycle brakes), SBS Friction (OEM and aftermarket brake pads, brake discs and clutch kits for motorcycles, scooter, racing and UTVs/SSVs/ATVs), and Öhlins (suspension components).