ZF announced today it is investing $200 million in commercial vehicle transmission manufacturing in North America. Beginning in 2023, ZF will produce the ZF PowerLine 8-speed automatic transmission at the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Gray Court, South Carolina. The additional production line at ZF Gray Court will result in more than 500 American jobs.
ZF PowerLine 8-speed automatic transmission technology sets a new benchmark for medium-duty commercial vehicle trucks, buses and heavy-duty pickup trucks, according to the company.
“ZF is a 106-year-old technology leader that has been in the U.S. for many decades, and this investment in U.S. manufacturing of sustainable driveline technology further proves our commitment to the North American commercial vehicle market,” explained Dr. Martin Fischer, President of ZF North America and Member of the Board of Management. “Together now with WABCO, ZF offers customers around the world an unrivaled product portfolio that includes driveline, steering, braking, ADAS technologies and telematics, coupled with a full-service network.”
The ZF PowerLine transmission is designed for medium-duty commercial vehicle trucks, buses and heavy-duty pickup trucks. The transmission is based on ZF’s 8-speed automatic transmission benchmark design, which provides maximum spread with fewer moving parts, reduced friction and less fluid. ZF PowerLine provides an incomparable total cost of ownership (TCO) with minimal maintenance, best-in-class fuel efficiency potential in the double digits, and highly integrated shift algorithms that promote up to 15% enhanced acceleration performance.
“ZF PowerLine proves equal, but in most cases, higher performance and efficiency than other transmissions with 9 and 10 speeds. It will set the new benchmark for automatic transmission technology in the strategic North American commercial vehicle market,” explained Christian Feldhaus, Director Commercial Vehicle Driveline Technology North America, ZF.
ZF began production of the PowerLine 8-speed automatic transmission at its global headquarters in Friedrichshafen, Germany, at the end of 2020 and made its first supply to North American customers in 2021. In 2023, volume production will begin in the U.S. and will exclusively serve North American market demand.
