ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Company Profile

■URL

https://www.zf.com

■Address

ZF Forum, Loewentaler Strasse 20, 88046 Friedrichshafen, Germany

Business Overview

-The Company is a leading worldwide automotive supplier of advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. The Company provides solutions for established automotive OEMs, mobility companies and startups in the fields of transportation and mobility. Its systems and solutions focus on electrifying vehicles, reducing emissions, and improving safety across technology domains of vehicle motion control, integrated safety, automated driving, and electric mobility.

-The Company develops and manufactures powertrain systems and components, chassis systems and components, active and passive safety technologies, electric mobility systems, electronics, and sensors.

-While the Company has traditionally invested approximately 5% of its sales in research and development, it has increased its research and development ratio to over 6% since the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and has steadily increased the ratio of research and development investment in recent years. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Company increased its investment in research and development from EUR 3.5 billion to EUR 3.6 billion and increased the research and development investment ratio from 7.6% to 8.6%, surpassing the 8% mark for the first time in recent years. In general, the Company has focused investment in research and development to adapt its current products and processes to the changes and trends of the automotive industry. Specifically, the Company’s investment is focused on the areas of AI, digital twins, and sustainability. Throughout 2024, the Company restructured its research and development operations, shifting specific departments from Corporate R&D to specific divisions and centralizing other activities.

-In March 2022, the Company reached an agreement with AEQUITA SE & Co. KGaA for the sale of its Electronic Interfaces product line under the Electrified Powertrain Technology division. The Company completed the divestiture of the Electronic Interfaces product line in November 30, 2023.

-The Company’s business operations are organized into several divisions which are further divided into business units. In January 1, 2024, the Company merged the Active Safety Systems and Car Chassis Technology divisions to form the new Chassis Solutions Division. In March 2024, the Company’s Passive Safety Systems division was rebranded to ZF Lifetec, establishing the former division as an independent entity. The Company currently operates in the following divisions and business units:

Divisions	Product Lines
Chassis Solutions	System House Vehicle Motion Control Brake Controls Foundation Brakes Steering Suspension Chassis Components
Electrified Powertrain Technology	Electrified Powertrain Systems Powertrain Modules & eMotors Electronics Axle Drives
Electronics & ADAS	ADAS and Electronics Operations Passive Safety Product Line Intercompany Product Line
ZF Lifetec (formerly Passive Safety Systems)	Inflatable Restraint Systems Seat Belt Systems Steering Wheel Systems
Commercial Vehicle Solutions	Driveline Technology Chassis Structure Chassis Control Bus & Trailer Solutions BL Aftermarket
Industrial Technology	Off-Highway & Test Systems Wind Power Technology & Industrial Drives Marine & Special Driveline Technology
Aftermarket	Passenger Car Aftermarket Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket Industrial Aftermarket Digital Solutions

Featured report
2023 Business Overview of Suppliers in Europe and the U.S.	Click here for featured report

ZF: "Enerlity" General-purpose Platform Concept for Commercial EVs	Click here for featured report

Shareholders

-The Company is privately owned by the following shareholders:

(As of Dec. 31, 2024)

Shareholders	Ownership Ratio (%)
Zeppelin Foundation	93.8
Dr. Jurgen and Irmgard Ulderup Foundation	6.2
Total	100.0

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Products

Electrified Powertrain Technology
Transmissions
-Manual and automatic transmissions
-Ecolite manual transmissions for pickups
-Dual clutch transmissions
-Automated manual transmissions
-DynaStart electric motors
-Electric drives
-Hybrid transmissions
-Converter hybrid transmissions
-Plug-in hybrid transmissions
-Transmission motor-pump units
-Hybrid modules

Driveline components
-Gearshift systems and electronic components
-Control systems
-Clutches and clutch systems
-Clutch discs with torsional dampers
-Torque converters
-Starting systems
-All-wheel drive systems
-Front and rear axle drives
-Co-axial reduction drive
-Bevel gearsets
-Differentials
-Dual mass flywheels
-Dual wet clutches
-Hybrid clutches
-Multi-disc clutches
-Hydrodynamically cooled clutches
-Clutch-by-wire systems
-XTend clutch covers with automatic wear compensation
-Vector Drive rear-axle drive system with active torque distribution
-PTO: Power Take Off and retarder systems
-Transfer cases
-E-Shifter Rotatronic
-E-Shifter Shifttronic
-E-Shifter Slidetronic
-Telematics systems
-Transmission housings
-Transmission inner components
-Light-alloy casting control components
-Plastic pedal modules
-Engine mounts

Axles
-Front and rear axle systems
-Engine-bound front axle drives
-Frame-bound front axle drives
-HAG rear axle drives
-Rear-axle drives with integrated all-wheel drive clutch
-Driven solid beam axles
-EVSys 800 800-Volt drive system
-Electric Twist Beam systems
-Corner modules

Electronic systems
-Electronic control units
-Gearshift systems
-Keyless entry systems
-Safety domain ECUs
-Airbag control units
-Sensors
-Crash sensors
-Carrier for switches and components
-Tire pressure monitoring systems
-Inverters
-TherMaS thermal management systems
-CO:SELECT modular power management solution

Electric traction drives
-Hybrid transmissions
-Electric motors
-Hybrid modules
-Low voltage hybrid systems
-Electric axle drives
-Electric twist beam axles
-Modular electric rear axles
-eBeam axles including e-motor, inverter, transmission and axle structure
-EM:SELECT modular electric motors with 96% efficiency
-Range extender systems
-DynaStart electric motors

Chassis Solutions
Chassis components
-Continuous Damping Control (CDC) systems
-Predictive damping systems
-CDC1xl rear-axle damping systems
-CDCrci (Rebound Compression Independent) damping systems
-FSC (Frequency Sensitive Control) systems that generate high- and low-frequency damping forces
-Tie rods
-Chassis subframes
-Powertrain suspension systems
-sMOTION Active Suspension concept
-Knuckles
-Stabilizers
-Stabilizer links
-Stabilizer supports
-Chassis mounts
-Cabin suspensions
-Leveling systems
-Shock-absorption elements
-Wheel carriers and hubs
-Cross-axis joints
-Suspension ball joints
-4-point links
-V-links
-Control arms
-Torque rods
-Corner modules

Chassis systems
-Active Kinematics Control (AKC) systems
-Roll stabilization systems
-EasyTurn axle concept enabling steering angles of up to 75 degrees
-mSTARS modular axle concept
-Electromechanical roll control systems

Damping components
-Monotube dampers
-Pre-loaded valves
-Sensitive damping controls
-Suspension strut modules
-Twin-tube dampers
-eLEVEL height adjusting actuator
-Nivomat automatic leveling system
-Hydraulic Compression Stop damping systems
-Hydraulic Rebound Stop damping systems

Vehicle Motion Control
-Steer-by-wire systems
-Brake-by-wire systems
-Rear-axle steering
-Electric front- and rear-axle steering

Commercial Vehicle Solutions
Driveline systems
-EcoLife environmental 6-speed automatic transmissions for buses
-Ecolite manual transmissions
-Ecomid manual transmissions
-EcoShift 6-Speed manual transmissions for coaches
-Intarder transmission integrated braking systems
-AS Tronic transmissions
-Ecosplit off-road transmissions for commercial vehicles
-TraXon modular transmission concept
-Power take-off clutches
-Torque converters
-Torsional dampers
-Dual mass flywheels
-Clutch systems
-ConAct pneumatic clutch actuation systems
-Duodrive hydrostatic drive systems for low speed operation
-DynaDamp torsional dampers
-XTend clutch covers with automatic wear compensation
-Hybrid modules
-Twin disc clutches
-VG transfer cases
-Front and rear brake calipers
-Electronic stability control systems
-Drum in hat
-Motor pumps for transmissions
-Rear caliper integrated park brake
-Single and tandem boosters and master cylinders
-CeTrax electric central drives

Chassis systems and components
-Premium Comfort Valve (PCV) shock absorbing valves
-Axle dampers
-Continuous Damping Control (CDC) systems
-Front and rear axle systems
-Tag axle systems
-Independent front suspension systems
-4-point links
-Cabin dampers
-Cabin suspensions and active roll stabilization systems
-Cabin suspensions with anti-roll bar
-Planetary steering axles
-Suspension rear twin axles
-Tie rods
-V-links

Steering systems
-ActivMode power steering pumps
-EV series power steering pumps
-PS series power steering pumps
-Fully adjustable steering column
-ReAX electrically assisted hydraulic steering system
-TAS series power steering gears
-THP/PCF series power steering gears

Vehicle Dynamics & Control & Autonomous Driving
-ESCsmart electronic stability control system
-OnGuard ACTIVE Advanced Emergency Braking System
-OnLaneALERT Lane Departure Warning System
-TailGUARD rear blind spot detection
-OnSide blind spot detection systems
-OptiPace predictive economic cruise control
-OptiTire advanced tire monitoring systems
-MAXX air disc brakes
-Brake chambers
-WABCO EasyFit automatic slack adjuster
-Air valves for brake controls
-Electronic braking systems
-Anti-lock braking systems
-Modular braking system platforms
-Vehicle electronic systems
-MTS2 modular door control system for buses

Driveline & Suspension Controls - Wheel End Solutions
-Electronically controlled air suspension systems
-Intelligent transmission automation systems
-Clutch control systems

Vehicle Energy Management Systems
-Air dryer cartridges
-FuelGuard electronic air processing units
-Mechanical air processing units
-e-comp air compressors for electric and hybrid commercial vehicles
-Engine driven air compressors
-HVAC solutions for buses

Fleet Solutions
-TX-Trailerpulse telematics solution which provides real-time location data and EBS data
-TX-Trailerguard communication hub platform providing trailer, truck and driver information
-TX-GEO 2 trailer and asset tracer solution
-TX-GO 2 on-board computer without a display
-TX-SKY fixed mounted on-board computer with touchscreen
-TX-FLEX mobile add-on for TX-GO 2 and TX_SKY
-TX-SMART driver app for freelance and distribution drivers
-TX-CONNECT web-based back office solution providing real-time information
-TX-CONNECT MP multiplatform version of TX-CONNECT
-TX-ECO program which evaluates and promote economical and ecological driving
-TX-DASHBOARDS assessment platform for various performance metrics
-TX-DOC document management solution
-TX-TANGO web service platform for integration with other office applications
-TRAXEE fleet management solution for small- and medium-sized fleets
-Tacho solutions
-TX-FUELBOT smart software solution which recommends refueling stops
-TX-FUELCOMPASS IoT Big Data solution for fleet fuel consumption and behavioral patterns

Trailer Systems
-Intelligent Trailer Program with applications for safety, driver comfort and effectiveness, operational efficiency, load optimization, and fuel efficiency
-Trailer air disc brakes
-Trailer anti-lock braking systems
-Trailer electronic braking systems
-OptiFlow Tail aerodynamic trailer tail
-OptiFlow SideWings aerodynamic sideskirts
-Air suspension for trailers controlled by pneumatic devices
-Lift axle controls
-OptiLevel air suspension controls
-OptiLock high security locking system for trailer doors

Car Systems
-Single vane vacuum pumps
-Air suspension solutions for premium passenger cars

Active Safety Systems
-Anti-lock braking systems
-Electric park brakes
-Electronic stability control
-Front calipers
-Integrated brake control
-Rear caliper and integrated parking brake
-Single and tandem boosters and master cylinders
-Dual pinion drives
-Belt drive electrically powered steering systems
-Column drive electrically powered steering systems
-Mechanical steering gears

Passive Safety Systems
Airbag systems
-Driver airbags
-Passenger airbags
-Airbag in roof modules
-Fabric housings
-Self-adaptive venting airbags
-Dual contour airbags
-Rear seat airbags
-Knee airbags
-Side curtain and rollover airbags

Seat belt systems
-Active control retractors
-Active buckle lifters
-Anchor and buckle pretensioners
-Seat belt retractor pretensioners
-Buckles
-Height adjusters
-Dynamic locking tongue for seat belts
-Illuminated seat belt buckles
-Multi Stage Load Limiters (MSLL)

Steering wheel systems
-Steering wheels comprised of lightweight materials such as magnesium and foam
-High-gloss and chromed bezels as decorative trim
-Integrated multifunctional switches
-Integrated heating systems
-Integrated sensors to detect hand position
-Integration vibration motors
-Steering wheel concepts for level 3 and 4 autonomous driving
-Steering wheel integrated displays
-Squircle steering wheels

Electronics & ADAS
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
-AC1000 radars
-Forward-looking radars
-Front cameras
-Tri-Cam front cameras
-S-Cam4 family of cameras
-Satellite cameras
-Sensor solutions
-Steering wheel hands-on detection system
-Imaging radars
-ProSound acoustic driver assistance system to detect and analyze sound signals
-Adaptive cruise control
-Automatic emergency braking
-Emergency steering control
-Highway driving assist
-Lane keeping assist
-Lane change assist
-Traffic jam assist
-coASSIST Level 2+ ADAS solution system
-coDRIVE hands-free autonomous highway driving system
-coPILOT ADAS system scalable from Level 2+ up to Level 4

Safety Electronics
-Electronic control units
-Power electronics
-Safety domain ECU
-Middleware systems
-Road condition monitoring applications
-HaptiX rotary controllers
-ProAI automotive supercomputer
-ProConnect connectivity platform
-cubiX vehicle control software
-Vivaldi II onboard unit providing telematics and diagnostic features
-ZF Annotate cloud-based AI service to provide large-scale reference data annotation
-ZF Smart Service app and device for intelligent diagnostics
-ZF Visual interactive real-time visualization of ADAS/AD systems and data

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History

1915	Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH was established.
1921	Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen GmbH (privately held corporation) changed to Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Aktiengesellschaft (stock corporation).
1950	Change of the Company's ownership. Majority of its shares (89.8%) transferred to Zeppelin Foundation.
1961	Developed a fully automatic car transmission
1992	Change of company name to ZF Friedrichshafen AG
1994	Established a joint venture, Shanghai Steering Co. Ltd. with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (holds 51%).
1998	Established a joint venture, ZF batavia LCC with Ford in USA (holds 51%).
Jan. 1998	Formed a global production of steering systems joint venture, ZF Lenksysteme GmbH with Bosch.
Aug. 1998	ZF Linksysteme formed a joint venture with Jidosha Kiki Co (Japan) in Japan to produce steering systems.
Summer 1999	Lemforder acquired a majority in French rubber components supplier Turnover SA.
Jun. 1999	Established a 50:50 joint venture, ZF Meritor LLC with Meritor Automotive Inc (USA).
Jul. 1999	ZF batavia LCC agreed cooperate with Fiat Auto SpA for supply.
Nov. 1999	Acquired majority in FKA from Hermann Voss GmbH & Co. KG.
Mar. 2000	The Company, Iveco and Meritor agreed to cooperate with Ashok Leyland (India). Established a joint venture, AIBC with AI Group (South Africa) and Brembo (Italia) SpA.
2001	Together with Chinese manufacturer Jincheng, the Company opened up the new joint venture ZF Steering Jincheng Co. in Nanjing China in order to manufacture passenger car and commercial vehicle steering pumps.
2001	Acquired Mannesmann Sachs AG
Aug. 2001	The Sachs Korea Suspension Co. Ltd., Changwon, Kyungyuam (SKS) was founded an important building block for ZF Sachs in Asia. ZF Sachs AG has 70% share of this company and the Korean shock absorber manufacturer Korea Automotive Systems Co. Ltd. holds the rest.
Nov. 2002	ZF Lemforder established a joint venture, ZF Chassis System Korea Co. Ltd. with Korean suppliers Hyundai Mobis and Seju. ZF Lemforder owns a majority share of 51% of the company with Hyundai Mobis assuming a 19% share and Seju holding the remaining 30%.
2002	A joint venture with the Algerian commercial vehicle manufacturer SNVI (Societe Nationale des Vehicules Industriels) was established under the name ZF Algerie S.a.r.l.
Mar. 2003	Took over 17% of the shares in the Iranian transmission manufacturer S.S. Charkheshgar Co., Tabriz
Oct. 2003	ZF Algerie S.a.r.l., Rouiba, a joint venture between the Company and the Algerian commercial vehicle manufacturer SNVI (Societe Nationale des Vehicules Industriels) was founded to produce commercial vehicle transmissions.
Mar. 2004	A joint venture, ZF Transmissions Shanghai Co. Ltd., was founded with the Shanghai Automotive Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).
Oct. 2004	Established a new joint venture, ZF Algeriein Rouiba, Algeria, with the state-owned commercial vehicle manufacturer SNVI (Societe Nationale des Vehicules Industriels).
2005	Four new companies were founded in China for the production of axles and suspension components, commercial vehicle transmissions, rubber-metal components, as well as steering systems.
Jul. 2006	ZF Getriebe N.V. was acquired by Punch International NV.
Mar. 2007	ZF Lemforder opened a new plant in Adelaide.
2008	Acquired the Cherry Corporation, an electronics manufacturer developing and producing among others switch systems, sensors, and control units for the automotive industry.
2011	Acquired the Nuremberg plant from the German automotive supplier Honsel.
2011	Acquired the plant of Bauknecht Hausgerate GmbH in Neunkirchen (Saarland), Germany.
Jan. 2014	Sold its South African subsidiary Auto Industrial Brake & Chassis Holding Johannesburg (AIBC) to Trinitas, an independent private equity fund.
Sep. 2014	Sold its Rubber & Plastics business unit to Chinese rubber and plastic products manufacturer Zhuzhou Times New Material Technology Co,. Ltd. (TMT).
Sep. 2014	Announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with U.S.-based TRW under which the Company will acquire TRW for approximately USD 12,400 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2015.
Jan. 2015	Sold all of its 50% stake in the steering systems joint venture ZF Lenksysteme to the joint venture partner Robert Bosch.
May 2015	Completed acquisition of TRW, a developer of active and passive safety systems, for approximately USD 12,400 million.
Jun. 2015	Acquired Halla DAS Lab Europe GmbH, a software development department focused on semi-autonomous driving located in Germany.
Jul. 2016	Divested Engineered Fasteners and Components business of ZF TRW to Illinois Tool Works Inc. for approximately USD 450 million.
Aug. 2016	Acquired 40% stake in Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH, a market leader in lidar technology and environment recognition software with a focus on autonomous driving applications.
Sep. 2016	Acquired 40% stake in doubleSlash Net-Business GmbH, a software company focused on vehicle networking.
Mar. 2017	Acquired approximately 45% of shares in Astyx Communication & Sensors GmbH, a developer of ultrahigh-frequency radar sensors and modules.
May 2017	Signed investment and cooperation agreement with BeeSpeed Automatizari S.R.L., an engineering services company. BeeSpeed’s Automotive Division will spin-off in 2018 with the legal transfer to the Company taking place in the beginning of 2019.
Jan. 2019	Acquired automotive division of BeeSpeed, an engineering service provider located in Romania.
Mar. 2019	Acquired 60% share of 2getthere B.V., a company located in the Netherlands which provides automated transport systems.
Mar. 2019	Announced agreement to acquire WABCO Holdings, a commercial vehicle safety and efficiency company, by acquiring all outstanding shares in an all-cash transaction for an equity value of more than USD 7 billion.
May 2019	Acquired 90% share in Simi Realty Motion Systems GmbH, a company which develops image-based 3D systems.
May 2020	Completed acquisition of WABCO, a commercial vehicle technology supplier, integrating the entity as an independent division, Commercial Vehicle Control Systems.
Aug. 2020	Completed acquisition of Veoneer’s U.S. brake control business.
Oct. 2020	Acquired all shares of former ZF Sachs Micro Mobility GmbH joint venture from BMZ Batterien-Montage-Zentrum GmbH and Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG.
Jan. 2022	Created new Commercial Vehicle Solutions Division by merging Commercial Vehicle Control Systems Division and Commercial Vehicle Technology Division.
Nov. 2023	Completed divestiture of Electronic Interfaces product line under the Electrified Powertrain Technology division to AEQUITA SE & Co. KGaA.
Jan. 2024	Merged Active Safety Systems and Car Chassis Technology divisions to form the new Chassis Solutions Division.
Mar. 2024	Rebranded Passive Safety Systems division to ZF Lifetec, establishing it as an independent entity
Apr. 2024	Completed sale of 50% of shares in the ZF Chassis Systems and Modules product line to Hon Hai Technology Group, making the entity a new joint venture called ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules.