ZF Group breaks ground on new NEV eDrive project in Shenyang city

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The foundation stone for the ZF New Energy Vehicle eDrive Project was laid today in Shenyang city, marking a significant milestone in ZF group's electrification efforts. The advanced initiative aims to manufacture and distribute electric axle drives and other products for new energy vehicles (NEVs).

With an investment exceeding 1 billion yuan (€130 million) and spanning 8.3 hectares, the project situated in Shenyang's Hunnan District will employ approximately 900 staff members. The plant's primary output will be the electric axle drive, with the initial phase set to commence in March 2025. The launch is anticipated to broaden ZF's clientele and boost its e-mobility production capacity.

Photo credit: ZF Group

This eDrive Project is the third of its kind in China since 2021, further solidifying ZF's position as a frontrunner in e-mobility, a core focus of the company. ZF's Electrified Powertrain Technology Division has secured global backlog orders amounting to €30 billion. The division specializes in designing and creating electric axle drive systems and components for significant OEMs across passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors.

The forthcoming product line at the new facility will be founded on ZF's modular kit electric drive platform, accommodating both front and rear axles. Products will include motors, power electronics, and reducers, all designed to meet power requirements ranging from 100 kW to 300 kW. The plant will also offer the flexibility to alternate between synchronous and asynchronous motors, contingent on customer specifications for primary and auxiliary drives.

The Shanghai-based ZF Asia Pacific's Electrified Powertrain Technology Division maintains six plants and an engineering center in China, producing a wide array of components including 8-speed transmissions, axle drives, electric axle drives, electric motors, power electronics, and reducers. The division is currently expanding its R&D team in China, with nearly 500 engineering positions being filled.

The ZF E-mobility projects have seen significant strides in China in 2022. For instance, the ZF Electric Mobility Technology (Shenyang) Co., Ltd. began its new energy vehicle electric drive system project, which involves the production and testing of electric motors, power electronics, and electric drive systems. Concurrently, the second phase of the ZF Hangzhou Drivetech (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. became operational, primarily manufacturing 800-volt electric drives and reducers.

Today's ground-breaking ceremony signals a bold response to China's growing auto market and evolving customer needs, ushering in a fresh phase in the ZF Group's electrification journey and marking substantial progress in the execution of the group's "Next Generation Mobility" strategy.