ZF Friedrichshafen is taking another step in the integration of TRW Automotive by combining the two aftermarket organisations of ZF Services and TRW Aftermarket.
With effect from January 1, 2017, the new organisation will create the world's second-largest service organisation in the automotive supplier segment.
"Having already fully integrated sales and purchasing in the original equipment business, our aftermarket business partners will now benefit from this successful integration," said ZF CEO Stefan Sommer.
"With its aftermarket activities, ZF ensures that its products perform powerful and reliable throughout their entire life cycle and a professional diagnosis and repair with original equipment spare parts is provided in the workshops. It is important to us to speak with one voice in this segment and to ensure that our products and services are available in all markets worldwide."
ZF acquired TRW Automotive on 15 May 2015 and integrated the company into the organisational structure as the Active & Passive Safety Technology Division. The respective aftermarket activities still sit within this division.
The TRW name will be retained as a product brand and enhance the existing brand portfolio alongside Sachs, Lemförder, Boge and Openmatics.
The new organisation will have about 8,000 employees worldwide and a sales volume of around EUR3bn. Helmut Ernst, who currently manages the ZF Services Business Unit, will head up the new organisation. He is also leading the 'One ZF Aftermarket' integration process together with the head of TRW Aftermarket, Neil Fryer. The new organisational structure and the management team have already been defined as part of this process.
"The future of autonomous driving is not just being driven by R&D. Our aftermarket organisation is also an important driving force which will ensure that workshops can understand and service these new vehicles, and in turn our groundbreaking products," said Sommer. Ernst added: "Our colleagues from TRW Aftermarket and ZF Services have been leading this development with a high level of professionalism and speed. They are showing the same commitment in identifying the 'best of both' across our business operations and structures and are implementing this concept as the benchmark for the new organisation."
