ZF TRW says it is looking to leverage the power of its combined operations and insists there is relatively little duplication in the new company following the acquisition by the German supplier of the American component producer.
The mega-merger creates the world’s third largest supplier with a turnover of EUR30bn (US$33.3bn) and a combined workforce of 134,000 employees operating in 213 locations across 40 countries.
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“There is not too much overlap between the two companies,” ZF TRW EVP active and safety technology, Peter Lake said at a global media briefing at ADAC’s proving ground at Potsdam near Berlin.
“It is a very ordered approach to integration. TRW is going to be a fifth division within the new ZF. Obviously, engineering is a major focus of activity.
“I am sure in three to five years the company will look different. We will have to take a view as to how the company can be organised to achieve objectives for the future.”
The ZF TRW executive vice president said TRW was continuing to be run as normal, but “within the context of ZF” and confirmed the US company name would remain.
“We are industry leader in terms of efficiency, automated driving [and] active safety,” added Lake. “These are the three mega-trends that outline the logic of ZF acquiring TRW.
“The whole intention is not that 1 + 1 = 2. We want to make sure they are bit more – we really have that opportunity.
“It is only six short weeks that the companies came together. Around March, there was some very controlled action between our groups because of course, anti-trust was high in our mind.
“I am personally really impressed with what our engineering teams have achieved in these few weeks – that is just a glimpse of what can be achieved. “
ZF TRW was keen to highlight its Smart Urban Vehicle at Potsdam, demonstrating “intelligently networking” individual chassis/driveline and driver assistance systems among a raft of features.
Equally, the all-electric rear axle drive eTB – electric twist beam – is mounted close to the wheel while the front axle has steering angles of up to 75° increasing the manoeuvrability of the prototype.
