The Oragadam facility marks ZF’s 19th in India and 10th in TN, with 80% of its workforce expected to be women. In the first phase, ZF has invested INR 170 crore and aims to invest an additional INR 30 crore in 2024.
The Germany-based automotive parts supplier ZF has inaugurated its new plant in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu (TN), with a commitment to invest INR 1,800 crore by 2030. The factory, set to be built in two phases, has already seen an investment of INR 170 crore, with plans for an additional INR 30 crore in 2024. Spanning 44 acres, the site is divided into two sections, 26 acres and 18 acres.
This facility marks ZF’s 19th in India and 10th in TN, with a workforce composition of approximately 80% women. It will produce components and systems for electric vehicles (EVs), including electric compressors for commercial vehicles, electronic braking systems, and various other products. The facility aims to cater to both domestic and international markets.
With this new plant, ZF aims to triple its sales revenue from INR 32 crore in 2023 to INR 100 crore in 2024. Production of actuators for the EU and China markets is set to begin in Q4 this year.
At the inauguration, T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Govt of TN, highlighted ZF’s significant investment of INR 3,500 crore in the state, creating 9,500 jobs. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the facility was signed in July 2021, with construction starting in November 2021.
Peter Laier of the ZF Group Board of Management emphasized India’s strategic importance for ZF, citing the country’s growing middle class, infrastructure projects, and skilled engineering workforce as key growth drivers. India is also seen as a vital manufacturing hub for global markets.
Akash Passey, President of ZF Group India, noted the company’s strong market share in the commercial vehicle segment and the emerging opportunities in the passenger car segment, particularly with the rise of electric mobility. P Kaniappan, Managing Director of ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India, stated that the new site aims to be a benchmark for digital and sustainable manufacturing, with plans for climate neutrality by 2040, solar and wind power generation, and rainwater harvesting to achieve water positivity by 2025.
