ZF Services, the new integrated aftermarket business unit of ZF AG, wants to grow its India business as part of its strategy to increase the share of non-European business. ZF Services established an office in India in 2010 with the objective to locally meet the market demand for products and services from ZF.
The German company recently introduced a range of original parts in the aftermarket for high-end cars. It supplies to a range of global OEMs, but now wants to cater to vehicles produced in India. “There will be new product ranges for locally manufactured cars,” Bernd Grasser, head of ZF Services India told Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the recent ACMA Automechanika. He added it would take some time to make inroads into the aftermarket as OEMs offer incentives like extended warranty to retain customers in their workshops. ZF Services plans to offer its entire range of components supplied to OEMs, in the aftermarket. It currently has 20 distributors and three service centres in India.
At ACMA Automechanika New Delhi, ZF showcased an Ecolife transmission, the six-speed automatic transmission for buses with new TopoDyn Life control software as a standard. In the passenger car segment, there was the display of a car chassis, which showed a range of ZF products including clutches, shock absorbers, steering gear and suspension components.
ZF India’s business is concentrated on commercial vehicles. Of the planned introduction of new products, an electric power steering, designed for emerging markets, will be a key addition.
The Group is witnessing growth in Asia Pacific and feels it is well positioned to achieve further growth in this region from now until 2015. Until 2015, ZF Group’s sales are projected to increase from about euro 15.5 billion in 2011 to euro 20 billion.
The key markets in Asia-Pacific that will contribute to this growth include China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Australia and Vietnam. To support these targets, the ZF Group will be making global investments at a record level of euro 1.5 billion each in 2012 and 2013 to expand its locations and invest in new products. In India, there will be an increased focus by the company on passenger car and CV segments.
SUMANTRA BAROOAH