BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union antitrust authorities will decide by Feb. 26 whether to approve German car parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen's [ZFF.UL] $13.5 billion (9.01 billion pounds) bid for U.S. rival TRW Automotive Holdings Corp (>> TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.).

The European Commission said on its website on Friday that it launched a review of the deal on Jan. 22. The transaction will give the companies an edge in technologies for self-driving cars.

TRW, a leading maker of car safety products such as brakes and air bags, counts as its clients Ford Motor Co (>> Ford Motor Company), General Motors (>> General Motors Company), Volkswagen AG (>> Volkswagen AG) and other car makers.

ZF Friedrichshafen supplies chassis components to companies including Audi AG and BMW (>> Bayerische Motoren Werke AG).

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)