ZF among the Top 10 in German Patent Statistics

May 7, 2013: In 2012, ZF Friedrichshafen AG filed 740 patents in Germany. This is an increase of roughly 10 percent compared to 2011 – and once more a position in the top ten of the annual statistics of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (GPTO). Trendsetting transmission concepts mainly account for ZF's new patent applications.

The number of new patents filed annually is an indicator of a company's innovative power. Of ZF’s 741 international patents, the company filed 740 in Germany, roughly 10 percent more than in the previous year, putting ZF once more among the top 10 in the GPTO patent statistics: In the recently published 2012 edition, ZF is now ranked ninth – so the supplier company is directly behind the large automotive manufacturers like Audi, Volkswagen and BMW.

ZF invested a total of 861 million euros (Rs 6,075 crore) into R&D with 7,120 employees worldwide in 2012. At the same time, the Group has major development locations in Europe, North America and Asia. Trailblazing automatic passenger car transmission concepts accounted for the majority of ZF patents. In parallel, the Group develops innovative transmission control systems. These innovations also contributed to the high number of new patent applications – along with new lightweight design technologies and suspension components and systems.

The 10 most active patent applicants at the GPTO

1 Robert Bosch GmbH, D, 3.972 Applications*

2 Daimler AG, D, 1.991

3 Siemens AG, D, 1.921

4 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, D, 1.854

5 GM Global Technology Operations LLC, USA, 1.565

6 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, D, 829

7 Volkswagen AG, D, 805

8 Audi AG, D, 787

9 ZF Friedrichshafen AG, D, 740

10 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, D, 719

* Number of patent applications filed in 2012 without considering possible Group affiliations.

Source: GPTO