April 26: ZF Lenksysteme, a joint venture of Robert Bosch GmbH and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, has opened its first fully-owned manufacturing facility for steering systems in the country. The plant, situated at Phulgaon near Pune will help ZF Lenksysteme enhance its India presence and address its commitments to Indian OEMs. Spread over the area of 10,000 square metres, the plant has the initial production capacity of 70,000 commercial vehicles steering systems and approximately 400,000 passenger car steerings which can be further ramped up, based on market requirements. The plant will employ 100 people at full capacity.

Michael Hankel, CEO, ZF Lenksysteme, said," This is an important step for ZF Lenksysteme to expand its operations in India. We chose Pune as it gives us an opportunity to be present right at the centre of India’s automotive sector.” ZF Lenksysteme is a pioneer in steering systems globally. The company counts among its clients Tata Motors, Volvo-Eicher Commercial vehicles, Ashok Leyland, Volvo India, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and Force Motors. Ronaldo Alves, Chief Executive Officer, ZF Lenksysteme India says his company’s primary target is to achieve 80 percent localisation in the coming years.

Among the products to be made will be hydraulic steering systems for CVs and electrical power steering systems for cars.

ZF Lenksysteme GmbH was founded on January 1, 1999. Both parent companies have long supplied the automotive industry with a variety of new developments and improvements on existing products.