ZF expands e-mobility production in Saarbrücken amid strategic investments

ZF Group, a global leader in automotive technology, is ramping up its focus on electromobility by expanding production at its Saarbrücken facility. The move is part of ZF’s broader strategy to adapt to market shifts and strengthen its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving automotive sector.

The Saarbrücken plant, one of ZF’s largest sites with approximately 10,000 employees, will soon begin producing two additional electric axle drives for passenger cars. This expansion is supported by ZF’s Future Fund, established in 2022, which helps finance new product lines and ensure the facility’s long-term viability. The fund, partly financed by contributions from employees, aims to make ZF more adaptable to changes in the market, particularly the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs).

The company has committed a significant investment in a modern, flexible production line that will secure 300 jobs at the site. This development marks a milestone in ZF’s transformation efforts, as Saarbrücken becomes the only ZF facility globally to manufacture a full range of drivetrains, from internal combustion engines to fully electric systems.

ZF’s efforts to enhance flexibility and competitiveness include optimising machine utilisation and offering early retirement programs to adjust to the lower value creation in e-mobility. Despite these advancements, ZF acknowledges that further structural adjustments will be necessary as the industry continues to evolve.