ZF Friedrichshafen - automotive industry company news

ITALY: Jeep quick to change to keep customers happy

17 May 2013

Jeep global sales were a record 701,200 last year, a 100% increase in just two years and a long way from the dark days of 2008/09 when ailing Chrysler Jeep was rescued by Fiat.

GERMANY: ZF Friedrichshafen posts 2012 sales of EUR17.4bn but operating profit falls 19%

24 April 2013

ZF Friedrichshafen has posted full-year 2012 sales of EUR17.4bn (US$22.6bn), although operating profit fell 19% to EUR687m.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Renaissance at Opel

19 April 2013

Off over to Opel's tech centre at Dudenhofen (in the forest south east of Frankfurt) to see and try some of the new engines and gearboxes in the works.

GERMANY: Opel sees 10-speed automatics

17 April 2013

Automatic transmissions with nine and 10 speeds are likely in the future, according to Opel's Rolf Kruettgen, a transmission specialist with the General Motors Europe unit, as the automaker readies its first eight-speeder for introduction. And GME will eventually offer CVTs and dual-clutch automatics as well.

RUSSIA: GAZ Group launches new LCV

10 April 2013

GAZ Group’s Gorky Automobile Plant has started serial production of the new-generation GAZelle NEXT light commercial vehicle. Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, officiated at the launch by pressing the button to start production.

NEW YORK SHOW: New platform & seven seats for Range Rover Sport

27 March 2013

The second generation of Land Rover's Range Rover Sport is making its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show. The main news is a 5+2 seating format, the choice of two 4x4 systems, plus a diesel hybrid and four-cylinder variants to come.

GENEVA 2013 PRESS PREVIEW DAYS REVIEW: Part Two (of two)

8 March 2013

Having peered under concepts to check for real engines and suspension systems, and gently interrogated multiple industry executives in the quest to slake readers' insatiable thirsts for knowledge, Glenn Brooks now reports his findings.

GENEVA: Global vehicle debuts list [Final version with additional cars & updated descriptions]

6 March 2013

Details of concepts and new models which made their global debuts at the Geneva motor show on media preview days 5 and 6 March.

DETROIT INTERVIEW: ZF Friedrichshafen CEO Stefan Sommer

28 January 2013

ZF Friedrichshafen CEO, Stefan Sommer, recently headed the German supplier's presence at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. He took time out of his schedule to talk to Simon Warburton.

CHINA: ZF Friedrichshfen wins Beijing order for 2,200 bus axle systems

22 January 2013

Beijing's Public Transport Corporation (BPTC) has placed an order for ZF Friedrichshafen low-floor axles, with 2,200 buses to be equipped with the German supplier's technology and delivered to the Chinese capital this year.

DETROIT: ZF backs VDA on EU-US free trade agreement

16 January 2013

ZF Friedrichshafen is welcoming the stance taken by German automotive industry association VDA which is urging the European Union and US to rapidly come to agreement surrounding free trade agreements (FTAs).

GERMANY: ZF 'welcomes' acquisition of GM Strasbourg plant by Punch Metals

2 January 2013

ZF has said that it welcomes the acquisition of the GM plant in Strasbourg by Punch Metals. ZF was also in the running for the purchase of the facility.

GERMANY: ZF Friedrichshafen rejigs management board

18 December 2012

ZF Friedrichshafen says it will introduce a new concept for its board of management next year, with the former separation of responsibilities for corporate functions and divisions eliminated.

PRODUCT EYE: 2013MY Range Rover Sport

12 December 2012

Glenn Brooks samples the latest, revised 2013 model year Range Rover Sport, reflecting upon what recent investments at the Solihull plant which builds it will mean for Land Rover's future.

BELGIUM: UBD chairman flags up diesel concerns

5 December 2012

Former European automotive supplier body, CLEPA, CEO, Lars Holmqvist, says a ruling earlier this year by the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning the health effects of diesel engines is significant.

BELGIUM: ZF Friedrichshafen bounces back after economic storm

29 November 2012

Driveline and chassis technology supplier, ZF Friedrichshafen, says it is on track to almost double revenue this year after being severely buffeted in the economic crisis.

BELGIUM: Booming ZF Friedrichshafen eyeing GM Strasbourg site to satisfy demand

29 November 2012

ZF Friedrichshafen says its interest in General Motors' Strasbourg transmission plant in Eastern France, is fuelled by a need to significantly ramp up capacity.

GERMANY: ZF looks to expand electronics business

28 November 2012

ZF Friedrichshafen is planning to strengthen its electronics activities as part of a long-term strategy to boost growth and profits, according to its CEO speaking to a German newspaper.

FRANCE: General Motors in "advanced" talks to sell Strasbourg transmission site

27 November 2012

General Motors says it is in "advanced" discussions with Punch International and ZF Friedrichshafen, which are seeking to acquire the US automaker's transmission plant in Strasbourg.

THAILAND/GERMANY: ZF opens axle plant in Rayong

16 November 2012

ZF Friedrichshafen has officially opened its new plant in Rayong, Thailand. Regional subsidiary ZF Lemforder (Thailand) makes axle systems for passenger cars at the facility.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Audi 101 - so many cars, so little time

9 November 2012

Highlight of my week was reacquaintance, after a long break, with Audi products, lots and lots and lots of Audi products.

PRODUCT EYE: Jaguar XF 2.2d

18 October 2012

It's been a year since Jaguar gave its XF sedan a mid-life facelift and the changes did a good job of freshening the now four-year old model. Glenn Brooks tries the 161bhp 2.2-litre turbo diesel, an engine which was added earlier in 2012 and which has lowered the price point for XF saloon ownership.

INTERVIEW (Part 3): Wolfgang Hatz, executive vice president of Research and Development, Porsche AG

12 October 2012

Porsche's Engineering chief Dr Wolfgang Hatz reveals secrets of the forthcoming 918 Spyder to Glenn Brooks in this, the third of a three-part series of exclusive interviews.

GERMANY: ZF reorganising material purchasing to save US$640m

17 September 2012

ZF is reorganising its production materials purchasing. In the next two years, the group wants to save EUR500m (US$640m) together with its suppliers. To achieve this, the number of suppliers is being reduced significantly, purchasing volumes bundled, and processes harmonised.

US: Jaguar adds four-cylinder XF in bid to revive brand

23 August 2012

Jaguar is hoping that by adding a four-cylinder engine to the slow-selling XF sedan, it can begin to revive its fortunes in the USA. In July, the brand's sales totalled just 1,011 units.

Q&A with ZF: Review of shock absorbers

16 August 2012

Continuing just-auto’s series of interviews with major component manufacturers, Matthew Beecham talked with Rolf Heinz Rüger, executive vice president, chassis technology, and head of business unit Suspension Technology, ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

PRODUCT EYE: Vauxhall Astra VXR

12 July 2012

It's not often that Vauxhall gets to launch a car before Opel but in the case of the new Astra VXR it makes sense: the UK will be the largest market for this fastest version yet of the brands' C-segment hatchback.

PRODUCT EYE: Audi A6 allroad quattro

28 June 2012

Can a crossover ever be considered a supercar? No? What if it sprints to 62mph in 5.6 seconds, hits a limiter at 155mph and sends so much torque to all four wheels that it will chirp its tyres off the mark? And then there's this: what if it's a diesel?

UK: Government tries to lure key suppliers

21 May 2012

The British government is talking to a number of key suppliers about opening new UK plants to boost the local content of cars produced in the country.