The transition towards electromobility and the increasingly competitive scenario that appears on the horizon of the major automotive players is about to have a heavy impact on the activities in Germany of ZF Friedrichshafen, the third largest component supplier in the world.
According to what Achim Dietrich, head of the works council, told the media, the company from the city of the same name in Baden-Württemberg is about to close two factories in Germany and cut up to 12 thousand jobs, due to the need to adapt to the new situation in the sector and, at the same time, to transfer research and development and production activities to countries with lower costs such as Eastern Europe, India and China.
Partial confirmation came from ZF, in the words of human resources manager Lea Corzilius.
"We want to maintain jobs - she said - but we know that the transformation towards electric mobility alone will cost jobs" underlining that the German company is relying on retirements, the reduction of temporary workers and normal natural fluctuations to obtain the necessary cuts.
Founded in 1915, ZF Friedrichshafen specializes in the development and production of gearboxes, differentials and transmission solutions primarily for internal combustion engines.
However, the German components giant now finds itself having to change its activities to focus more on electric driving systems, automated driving functions and automotive software, overshadowing its century-old know-how in mechanical technologies.
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