ZF Group revs up localisation in India, to set up tech centre in Hyderabad

ZF Friedrichshafen AG is setting up its first ever India Technology Center in Hyderabad which will be dedicated to software and mechanical engineering. The new Technology Center will support ZF’s global development teams while enabling the company to accelerate local product development.

Commenting on the decision to invest further in India, Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, said: “This new facility is a significant investment for ZF in India. We are harnessing the skilled talent pool that India has to offer in order to develop superior technology solutions for our global as well as local customers”.

Over the years, ZF has been successful in localising high technology products in India. “As demand for software engineering grows, we will exponentially increase our capacity to help meet our customers’ growth aspirations. With this Technology Center, we are reinforcing our global R&D footprint as well as our commitment and investment in the rapidly emerging Indian market,” he added.

13,800 engineers are currently working in R&D with ZF globally. The R&D network consists of more than 100 development locations, including 17 main development locations. ZF’s first Technology Center in India will be fully operational by 1st January 2017 and is expected to have a work force of 2,500 engineers by 2020.

ZF has made considerable investments and advanced technology launches in the Indian market for example in its Pune facility, the first launch of the Electric Park Brake (EPB) technology in India and also inaugurated ZF Hero Chassis systems,,a 50-50 JV ZF India and Hero Motors in Oragadam, Kanchipuram district.

ZF has been operating for more than three decades in the Indian market and ZF TRW for more than 50 years through its joint venture with TVS and Rane groups. Currently with about 12,000 employees including JV’s, ZF has 19 production facilities excluding warehouses and office buildings.

Mamatha Chamarthi, senior vice-president and executive lead for the new India Technology Center, said: “ZF has an impressive history of being the leader and innovator in the auto component sector. We have 1,000 external engineers in the field of electronics, software and mechanical engineering with key Indian Engineering Services providers in Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Our ZF India Technology will build on this engineering foundation, and focus not only on bringing advanced technology to India, but localising more strategic business activities including research, design and development.”