ZF LIFETEC breaks ground on OPW airbag project in China's Rizhao

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 12, ZF LIFETEC, a leading specialist in passive safety technology for vehicle occupants, broke ground on the third phase of its Rizhao plant in the Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shandong Province — a new one-piece woven (OPW) airbag production project, according to a post on the company's WeChat account.

Photo credit:  ZF LIFETEC

Covering roughly 15,000 square meters, the project has already completed site leveling, design planning, and engineering preparations. Full-scale production is slated for 2027, with annual capacity expected to exceed five million OPW airbags — a move set to significantly strengthen ZF LIFETEC's supply capabilities in both the Asia-Pacific region and global markets.

Industry forecasts suggest the global automotive passive safety market will grow at a compound annual rate of around 4%, while demand for airbags is expected to surge at 8.9% — nearly three times the growth rate of overall vehicle production. Against this backdrop, ZF LIFETEC's early investment in the OPW segment positions it to seize market opportunities and reinforce its competitive standing.

Since establishing operations in Rizhao in 2022, ZF LIFETEC has completed two production phases, supplying airbag cushions, steering wheels, and other products to leading automakers worldwide.

The OPW project aims to meet surging global demand for high-performance airbag cushions while building a more agile and self-sufficient supply chain. By expanding its investment in China, ZF LIFETEC plans to better align with local customer needs, accelerate the path from R&D to mass production, and deepen collaboration with Chinese brands and new energy vehicle manufacturers to advance innovative applications in intelligent safety systems.