ZF Friedrichshafen AG is taking another important step in the integration of TRW Automotive by combining the two aftermarket organizations of ZF Services and TRW Aftermarket. Customers can learn about the new brand portfolio structure and associated services for the first time at Automechanika Frankfurt, in September.
“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 Dr. 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 May 15, 2015, and integrated the company into the organizational structure as the Active & Passive Safety Technology Division. The respective aftermarket activities still sit within this division. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, there will be one single aftermarket business at ZF. The TRW name will be retained as a product brand and enhance the existing brand portfolio alongside Sachs, Lemförder, Boge and Openmatics. The new organization creates the second-largest aftermarket organization in the automotive supplier segment with approximately 8,000 employees worldwide and a sales volume of around 3 billion euros (approximately $3.32 billion USD). Helmut Ernst, who currently manages the ZF Services Business Unit, will head up the new organization. He also is leading the “One ZF Aftermarket” integration process together with the head of TRW Aftermarket, Neil Fryer. The new organizational 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 organization 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.
Helmut Ernst said, “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 organization.”
ZF Services and TRW Aftermarket will have a joint booth at Automechanika Frankfurt from Sept. 13-17. Customers will be able to learn about the new structure and the new lineup of the product, service and brand portfolio.
