Shortly after its formation, Brembo specialized in disc brakes, which were imported from the UK at the time. The company began securing supply contracts with major manufacturers in the 1960s, starting with Alfa Romeo in 1964 and Moto Guzzi in 1966. By the 1980s, Brembo's client base expanded to include BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Porsche. The company went public on the Milan Stock Exchange in 1995.
In 2000, Brembo acquired AP Racing, a UK-based manufacturer of racing brakes and clutches. Further international expansion occurred in November 2007 when Brembo's North American subsidiary purchased the Automotive Brake Components division of Hayes Lemmerz for approximately €39.6 million, acquiring production facilities in Homer, Michigan, and Apodaca, Mexico. In 2014, the company announced an €83-million expansion of the Michigan site and a €32-million investment in a new 31,500-square-meter facility intended to produce two million aluminum calipers annually.
By 2015, the company reported annual sales of €1.8 billion and was exploring acquisitions in the automotive and aviation sectors. As of 2019, Brembo operated in 14 countries with a workforce of more than 10,634 employees. In October 2024, Brembo acquired the suspension component manufacturer Öhlins Racing for $405 million.
Brembo specializes in performance braking systems and components, maintaining QS9000 and ISO 9001 certifications. The company sells more than 1,300 products, including calipers, drums, rotors, and brake lines. In most markets, Brembo controls the full production cycle, from owning the foundries that produce raw materials to managing distribution.
The company operates several brands across different segments:
Brembo: The flagship brand for high-end brakes.
AP Racing: Racing motorcycle and car clutches and brakes.
ByBre: Brakes for small to midsize scooters and motorcycles in markets including Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
Marchesini: Wheels.
J.Juan: Motorcycle brakes.
SBS Friction: Brake pads, discs, and clutch kits for motorcycles and utility vehicles.
Öhlins: Suspension components.
Brembo is the braking systems provider for Formula One and supplies the majority of teams in MotoGP. Although the Gresini team used Nissin brakes during the 2014 season, Brembo became the single brake package partner and supplier for MotoGP by 2016. In the IndyCar Series, Brembo served as the official brake supplier from 2012 to 2016 and provided calipers during the 2017 season.
The company also provides braking systems for several other championships:
Formula E: Supplier for all Spark Racing Technology Gen2 cars.
FIA Formula 2 (formerly GP2): Official brake caliper supplier since 2005.
FIA Formula 3 (formerly GP3): Official whole brake supplier since 2010.
MotoE World Cup: Exclusive supplier of braking systems.
Additionally, Brembo is the official technology partner for the Gran Turismo sim racing series, where its carbon-ceramic brakes and calipers are featured as in-game components.
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