German automotive components manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen is committing $500 million to its South Carolina transmission plant, transforming it into a versatile production facility for both internal combustion engine (ICE) and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as passenger cars and large commercial trucks by launching domestic manufacturing of its PowerLine transmission.
ZF announced plans to introduce novel product lines at its sprawling 1.7 million-square-foot Grey Court facility, situated just south of Greenville, South Carolina, within the next few years. For the first time, the corporation will manufacture its fourth-generation eight-speed transmission for plug-in hybrids in North America, a model also supplied by ZF to Germany for the BMW 7 Series and X5.
ZF’s PowerLine transmission boasts a modular design that reportedly enables fuel savings of up to 10% compared to rival transmissions, according to company claims. The PowerLine’s adaptable architecture seamlessly supports both internal combustion engine (ICE) and plug-in hybrid configurations, catering to a diverse range of vehicle types, including lightweight passenger cars, vans, buses, and commercial vehicles. The PowerLine is engineered to excel in sophistication 5 autos and class 8 semi-trucks, boasting stepped gear ratios that deliver elevated torque at launch and a prime gear optimized for improved fuel efficiency – a significant step towards reducing CO2 emissions in the heavy-duty trucking sector.
At its North American flagship flex manufacturing facility, ZF’s Grey Courtroom premises serve as a premier hub for producing innovative technologies for today and tomorrow, according to Stephan von Schuckmann, a representative from ZF. As our inaugural online presence, this website embodies the transformative journey our organization and society are undertaking.
The corporation plans to hire 400 employees for newly created positions at its plant.
The company aims to achieve an annual transmission production capacity of 200,000 units by 2025, with significant investments in a newly dedicated 50,000-square-foot facility. The toes of the manufacturing unit must be aligned correctly to enable that process.
Following a $200 million funding infusion focused on supporting three major US industrial automobile manufacturers, the company is seeking federal incentives to aid its own financing plans, although the status of these efforts remains unclear at present.
In the final 12 months, ZF unveiled a plan to significantly expand its offerings to over 73 million additional vehicles in North America by introducing 285 new products to its portfolio – encompassing brake pads, suspension, and steering components for prominent automakers such as Tesla, Hyundai, Ford, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. In 2019, ZF secured a significant partnership with BMW, commencing production of an advanced eight-speed automated transmission at its Grey Court facility, situated approximately 30 miles from the German automaker’s manufacturing hub in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
ZF Group is allegedly allocating significant funds to enhance manufacturing capacities at its Mexican facilities, committing $234 million to construct a new facility in Juarez and approximately $40 million to expand its Toluca facility, further solidifying its presence in the region.
ZF Friedrichshafen, the German automotive component manufacturer, has warned that it could potentially shed up to 12,000 jobs by 2030 in a worst-case scenario. The company employs approximately 165,000 people globally.
