ZF Group, the German technology leader in driveline and chassis solutions, has opened its 19th manufacturing facility in India with a significant investment of €20 million (₹192 crore). Located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, this new plant spans 10,000 square metres and is aimed at producing axles and transmissions for the construction equipment and railway sectors.
This strategic expansion is part of ZF’s global vision of “Make in India for India and the World.” With this move, ZF has now established 11 manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu alone, reaffirming the state’s role as a key industrial hub.
The Coimbatore facility will manufacture three key product lines:
- ERGOPOWER M transmissions for construction equipment, which offer automatic powershift technology and promise up to 15% better fuel efficiency.
- MULTITRAC axles, designed to be compact yet capable of delivering high torque with reduced braking losses.
- EcoMet transmissions tailored for metro rail applications, featuring a modular design compatible with multiple train models.
ZF Group aims to cater to both domestic and export markets through this new site, contributing to India’s rising prominence in global supply chains.
Dr Peter Laier, Member of the ZF Board and Head of Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology, stated that India remains a strategic market due to its engineering talent and expanding infrastructure needs. He emphasised that the Coimbatore plant will help ZF bring production closer to customers while reinforcing its innovation goals.
Akash Passey, President of ZF Group India, echoed this view, calling India a future manufacturing leader. “Our strategy combines domestic opportunity with global delivery. With this facility, we are ready to support both,” he said.
The facility is also geared to support ZF’s export requirements and supplement production from its German hub. It is expected to strengthen ZF’s capacity to meet the growing demand in construction and railway applications worldwide.
Globally, ZF Group operates 161 manufacturing sites across 30 countries and employs approximately 161,600 people. The company generated €41.4 billion in sales in fiscal 2024. Its Industrial Technology division serves off-highway vehicles, rail systems, marine propulsion, and renewable energy sectors.
The Coimbatore plant reinforces ZF Group’s commitment to India’s manufacturing landscape and is positioned to become a key contributor to both domestic industrial growth and international supply chains.