FRANKFURT, Germany (July 7, 2016) — ZF Friedrichshafen A.G. is further integrating TRW Automotive into its organization by combining the aftermarket divisions of ZF Services and TRW Aftermarket.
The operations will merge Jan. 1, creating what ZF claims will be the world's second-largest service organization in the automotive supplier segment.
“Having already fully integrated sales and purchasing in the original equipment business, our aftermarket business partners will now benefit from this successful integration,” ZF CEO Stefan Sommer said.
“With its aftermarket activities, ZF ensures that its products perform powerful and reliable throughout their entire life cycle and a professional diagnosis and repair with original equipment spare parts is provided in the workshops. It is important to us to speak with one voice in this segment and to ensure that our products and services are available in all markets worldwide.”
ZF acquired TRW Automotive in May 2015 and integrated the company as the Active & Passive Safety Technology Division. The respective aftermarket activities are still part of this division.
After Jan. 1, there will be one aftermarket business at ZF, the company said. The TRW name will be retained as a product brand alongside Sachs, Lemförder, Boge and Openmatics.
The combined aftermarket business will have about 8,000 employees worldwide and a sales volume of about $3 billion, the company said.
Last year, TRW Aftermarket generated sales of about $1.1 billion while ZF Service netted about $2 billion. TRW Aftermarket operates 41 locations worldwide, including 15 logistics centers and 22 technical centers; ZF Services operates 77 locations, including 75 logistics centers.
Helmut Ernst, who manages the ZF Services Business Unit, will head up the new organization. He is also leading the “One ZF Aftermarket” integration process together with the head of TRW Aftermarket, Neil Fryer. The new organizational structure and the management team have already been defined as part of this process, ZF said.