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ZF is a global leader in driveline and
chassis technology as well as active and
passive safety technology. The company,
which acquired TRW Automotive in
2015, is now represented at about 230
locations in some 40 countries.
The two companies, which were still
independent in 2014, achieved a sales
figure exceeding €30 billion with
134 000 employees. As in previous
years, both companies have invested
approximately 5 percent of their sales
in Research and Development (recently
€1.6 billion) in order to be successful
with innovative products.
ZF is one of the top three automotive
suppliers worldwide.
The company was founded in 1915 for
the development and production of
transmissions for airships and vehicles.
The “Motion and Mobility” slogan clear-
ly states the company’s core mission:
Right from its foundation, ZF has devel-
oped and manufactured innovative prod-
ucts for all people around the globe who
want to move things reliably, comfort-
ably, and safely, and experience the ulti-
mate in efficient mobility. Quality, tech-
nological leadership, and innovative
power have always defined the Group’s
identity – today as much as ever.
In the field of e-mobility, ZF offers system
components including power electronics
for a wide variety of applications from a
single source. In this context, the tech-
nology company follows a modular ap-
proach, which satisfies all functionality
requirements as well as the commercial
demands of vehicle manufacturers. The
ZF portfolio includes all components for
the cost-effective electrified driveline in-
cluding control units and power electron-
ics, starting with individual hybrid mod-
ules, plug-in hybrid systems, through to
all-electric concepts.
The electrification of the driveline will
enable us to achieve future emission
targets. Here, downsizing of power
electronics to integrate an electric motor
and PE into a transmission is a possible
key in reducing the costs of hybrid
systems. Reducing installation space,
weight, and the number of interfaces
and components, as well as increasing
efficiency are the drivers of innovation
for new developments. ZF focuses on a
broad technology spectrum in terms of
power electronics: from power modules
and passive components to signal elec-
tronics and system integration.
ZF Friedrichshafen AG