ZF's Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) division opened a plant in Oragadam, India, where electric components will also be produced for the Indian and Asian markets. The week prior, ZF's U.S. plant in Gray Court, South Carolina, began local production of the efficient and hybrid-capable PowerLine transmission for light commercial vehicles for the North American market. With both locations, the CVS division is continuing its global growth and sustainability strategy. This expansion of the company's global production network aims to help meet the expected demand of Indian and Asian manufacturers.
Oragadam is the 19th ZF plant to be located on the Indian subcontinent, the 10th in the Tamil Nadu region. In addition to chassis components, electric components such as the air compressor for light and medium-duty commercial vehicles will soon be produced in the facility, which spans more than 75,000 square. The plant size will be expanded to 164,000 square feet in a second phase of construction. The total investment until 2032 will amount to more than $216 million. ZF plans to operate the new location in India with 100% renewable energy. The facility has a solar plant that can generate up to 450 kWp, with further energy demand supplemented by solar and wind energy supplied under long-term contracts. The Oragadam plant is also equipped with a system to collect and reuse rainwater and is expected to be water neutral by 2025.
ZF CVS division's recent expansion its North American plant in Gray Court, South Carolina, is the second production location of the hybrid-capable commercial vehicle transmission PowerLine, now for the North American market. The ramp-up plans already envisage up to 200,000 units next year.
