Gasgoo Munich- ZF announced on August 12 that series production of its eight-speed hybrid transmission had begun at ZF Transmissions Shanghai Co., Ltd., marking a further step in the German supplier's localization of electrified powertrain technology in China.
Image source: ZF
The new product expands the Shanghai plant's role beyond conventional automatic transmissions. The facility began making ZF's eight-speed transmission (8HP) locally in 2019.
ZF completed the localization program in 18 months from initial project approval and 13 months from its formal launch to the first production unit, according to the company.
At the start of production, domestically sourced components accounted for 79% of the transmission's total material content. The localization rate reached 95% among materials that ZF classified as being within the project's controllable sourcing scope.
The supplier said it had secured nominations from several customers, although it did not identify the automakers involved or disclose production volumes and vehicle-launch schedules.
The investment comes as automakers continue to use hybrids and plug-in hybrids to reduce fuel consumption while preserving the range and refueling convenience of combustion-engine vehicles. That shift is creating demand for transmissions capable of integrating a more powerful electric motor without substantially increasing powertrain size.
ZF is targeting the higher-performance end of this market, where suppliers must balance electric-only operation, combustion-engine efficiency and high combined torque within a single driveline package.
The transmission supports maximum input torque of 800 Nm and incorporates an electric motor producing up to 160 kW and 450 Nm. The motor can deliver rapid torque at low speeds, while the combustion engine contributes more of its power as vehicle and engine speeds rise.
This configuration allows the two power sources to operate across complementary portions of the performance envelope, improving low-speed response without sacrificing sustained output at higher speeds.
An axially compact design helps limit the transmission's installation footprint, while its modular subsystems allow it to be adapted to different hybrid configurations. ZF says the architecture is designed to balance fuel economy with the efficiency of electric propulsion.
The transmission is intended particularly for plug-in hybrid vehicles using longitudinal powertrain layouts. Potential applications range from passenger cars and MPVs to pickups and off-road SUVs, giving ZF a common technical base for several vehicle segments. ZF's latest 8HP architecture was developed to accommodate different levels of hybridization through a modular design.
China's large new energy vehicle market has encouraged international suppliers to move more engineering, manufacturing and sourcing activities into the country. For ZF, localizing the hybrid transmission could shorten customer-development cycles, reduce exposure to cross-border supply disruptions and make the product more cost-competitive for Chinese vehicle programs.
The start of production in Shanghai therefore represents more than the addition of another transmission line. It is part of ZF's wider effort to combine its global powertrain expertise with a more deeply localized Chinese supply chain as competition in hybrid technology intensifies.
