ZF has recently announced the successful inauguration of a second TraXon commercial vehicle transmission production line at its headquarters in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The new line, which follows the advanced design philosophy of the Jiaxing plant, fully reflects ZF’s strategic vision and efficient execution in global production capacity collaboration, production flexibility, and efficiency improvement.

 

 

 

The new production line covers an area of over 1,800 square meters and is located adjacent to the existing TraXon line, facilitating flexible manpower allocation and efficient logistics coordination. It features advanced design concepts, including an overhead conveyor system, extended workstations with computer-aided assembly, and newly designed integrated test benches. These test benches can comprehensively cover various PTO (power take-off) versions and support retarder applications, maximizing the ability to meet the market’s demand for diverse and high-quality products.

 

 

The design concept of the new German production line originates from the TraXon line at ZF’s Jiaxing plant in China. The design plan was led by ZF’s German production planning team and first implemented in Jiaxing in close cooperation with local Chinese suppliers. During the construction of the Jiaxing line, the German headquarters provided extensive technical support to Chinese suppliers. This time, based on the experience gained in Jiaxing, Chinese suppliers and ZF’s local team helped the German team optimize and implement the new line, completing the pre-acceptance work. This process realized the deep integration of cross-border experience and formed a high-quality feedback loop from “bringing in” to “going global.”

 

This once again proves that ZF’s localization strategy of “in China, for China, and for the world” is not only reflected in product development but also implemented in production manufacturing and supply chain construction. The Chinese experience has provided solid support for cost reduction and efficiency improvement at the German headquarters, becoming a model case for collaborative innovation in ZF’s global manufacturing system.

 

 

 

The TraXon II transmission is a highly modern transmission system product that still has great market potential in China, Europe, and North America. Prof. Dr. Peter Laier, Member of the Board of ZF Group and Global Head of ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions, said: “By using intelligent and digital tools, the newly added production line will continue to enhance the flexibility and flexibility of the production system. Following the mass production of the TraXon II transmission in Jiaxing at the beginning of the year, the commissioning of the new German production line will further strengthen ZF’s global production capacity layout and complementary capabilities. Against the backdrop of the increasingly complex global geopolitical and supply chain environment, it will provide customers with more stable and efficient delivery guarantees.”

 

Yu Suojie, President of ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions for the Asia-Pacific region, said: “The new production line at the Friedrichshafen plant, modeled on the successful practice of the Jiaxing plant, marks another milestone in ZF’s global collaboration and localization strategy. The TraXon family of products, including the TraXon II hybrid transmission, TraXon II transmission, and TraXon II bus version transmission, is continuously expanding and widely serving the global heavy-duty truck and bus markets. It meets the diverse needs of different customers in different regions and provides end-users with efficient, safe, and comfortable travel experiences.”