ZF gives Asia-Pacific higher priority

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Motor India  /  May 20, 2016

Over the past few years, Asia-Pacific, with China being the largest market, has developed into one of the most important regions for German commercial truck transmission manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

With a turnover of 6.4 billion Euros, more than one-fifth of the company’s 29.2 billion Euros in sales were generated there in 2015.

ZF is acknowledging the growing importance of this dynamic market with a change in the Board of Management, effective April 1, 2016. The Corporate Market Function is now centrally responsible for the Asia-Pacific region.

Totaling 22 percent of group sales, the Asia-Pacific region is among the most important of ZF’s markets.

Sales have more than doubled since 2013 in this region, from around 3 billion Euros in 2013 to 6.4 billion Euros in the last fiscal year.

In China, the region’s largest country market, ZF generated sales of 4.8 billion Euros with 13,800 employees. ZF employs 17,300 people throughout the entire region.

“We expect continued significant growth for the Asia-Pacific region in 2016. Our most important market, China, is on a moderate but clear growth path,” says the ZF CEO Stefan Sommer.

To meet the demands of this significant and dynamic market, ZF has re-allocated its Board of Management responsibilities, appointing Peter Lake, Board Member of Corporate Market, to lead this region, effective April 1, 2016.

ZF is focusing in particular on local system solutions. It has a strong production presence in the Asia-Pacific region to satisfy the increasing customer needs in terms of localization and the required competence. Current examples are sales of our modular TraXon transmission system in the Chinese market, as well as the start of volume production of truck clutches in the first half of 2016.

ZF is also enhancing its research and development footprint in the Asia-Pacific region in order to develop products for the market directly on-site. We’re currently expanding our R&D center in Shanghai with additional laboratories, test benches and offices, almost quadrupling the facility from 11,000 square meters to 54,000 square meters.

The latest technologies and additional capacity are not limited to Shanghai. A new crash test sled system – the group’s fourth crash test facility worldwide – was opened in mid-April at ZF-TRW’s R&D center in the neighboring city of Anting.

By recognizing the importance of the Asia-Pacific market and investing in its development capabilities, ZF has been able to more effectively meet the needs of existing and new customers.

 

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ZF's modular "TraXon" transmission system (info and videos) - https://www.zf.com/corporate/en_de/products/product_range/commercial_vehicles/traxon_3/traxon_fit_for_the_future.html

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