ZF Zhangjiagang Plant's first IPA stabilizer link project enters into volume production

Beijing (Gasgoo) - On August 13, 2025, ZF announced that the first Injection Plastic Assembly (IPA) stabilizer link at Zhangjiagang plant officially entered mass production in just 14 months. The start of production (SOP) marks the successful addition of the IPA stabilizer link to ZF's expanding product lineup. With its optimized weight and cutting-edge production technology, this component offers an innovative approach to enhancing chassis systems in electric vehicles.

photo credit： ZF

To better meet the demand for lightweighting in new energy vehicles, ZF has achieved forward-looking technological breakthroughs in the lightweight design of IPA stabilizer link, by introducing innovative technologies such as IPA ball joint and FRP (Fiber-reinforced Plastic) rod. This not only further reduces product weight but also significantly optimizes production costs.

The IPA ball joint replaces the traditional multi-component structure of a metal housing, ball race, and metal end cap with a full plastic housing, offering multiple advantages: reduced component count simplifies part management and assembly; lower weight contributes directly to vehicle lightweighting; and streamlined production enhances manufacturing efficiency.

The FRP rod, made of glass fiber reinforced polyester resin, achieves the dual objectives of weight reduction and cost efficiency while strictly meeting all performance requirements. According to calculations, this IPA stabilizer link reduces weight by over 15% compared to conventional products, offering significant market competitiveness amid the new energy vehicle industry's pursuit of lower energy consumption and extended range.

As a key commitment to the Chinese market, ZF has made localization of advanced products and technologies a core strategy. By implementing IPA technology at its Zhangjiagang Plant and mass-producing composite components, the company has effectively addressed the lightweighting needs of China's NEV sector. These initiatives not only enable local adaptation of core technologies but also establish a responsive supply chain system.

"Zhangjiagang plant is a key production location for Chassis Components Asia Pacific, ZF Group," said Ken Si, Head of Product Line Chassis Components AP. "The first IPA stabilizer link with a composite material design for Zhangjiagang CC plant, is first localized and the first stabilizer link with IPA and composite material of our customer - an important European car manufacturer."

Leveraging ZF's global and Asia-Pacific resources, Zhangjiagang plant only took 14 months to complete the automatic round table construction, pass a series of customer audit and get final PPAP approval. The IPA line is designed to produce approximately 1.6 million pieces per year, with more projects slated for mass production in 2026.