At the Automechanika Shanghai 2024, ZF was reiterating their claim "Together we’re maximizing mobility Uptime”, reflecting their commitment to distributors, workshops and fleets while exploring the impact and future trends of sustainable development.

ZF Aftermarket made an appearance at the 2024 Automechanika Shanghai held in Shanghai, China from December 2nd to December 5th. The brand showcased its latest product portfolios and digital solutions for the future. On the first day of the exhibition, Philippe Colpron, head of the ZF Aftermarket Division delivered a keynote speech on the global brand proposition "TOGETHER WE’RE MAXIMIZING MOBILITY UPTIME! ". This encapsulates the commitment to keep society moving and how ZF is raising its own bar on how to support the Aftermarket, an industry which is crucial in ensuring vehicles stay operational and reliable across their lifetime.

Colpron said: " Mobility grew as a key pillar of our society, either enabling us to be where we need, or in getting the goods or food close to our households. At ZF Aftermarket, our aim is not only to keep pioneering in bring solutions to maximize vehicle uptime. We are also helping the key businesses which are needed to make it happen, being parts distributors, workshops or fleet operators, not only ensuring they can strive in the current market environment, but also through the decades to come.”

The push for digitalisation and sustainability is synonymous with the ambition of ZF to strengthen trust in ZF Aftermarket’s partnerships. At the moment when the entire automotive industry is undergoing a transformation towards a data-driven economy, the decision-making process is also changing, especially for fleet operators who are increasingly focusing on managing uptime (UPTIME) and total cost of ownership (TCO). In response, ZF offers digital solutions tailored to these needs, providing tools to improve operational efficiency. Additionally, software- and cloud-driven maintenance is crucial for maximizing mobile uptime, and digitization is the key to elevating the aftermarket to a new level in terms of maximizing uptime. It's about creating better expectations, efficiency, and quality throughout the entire value chain. At the event, delegates could experience first-hand what this would mean for their businesses and how it will impact their operations.

In China, ZF is taking the lead in this regard. For example, through the provision of artificial intelligence-guided maintenance services for fleets and mechanics, or use artificial intelligence to offer remotely guided repair support for workshops. Other examples include ZF’s commercial vehicle aftermarket solutions, which unlock aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicles with one click, and the introduction of the ZF [pro]Diagnostics MultiScan 001 commercial vehicle diagnostic instrument into the Chinese market. This solution has already received positive feedback from fleet customers.

Remanufacturing is an important part of ZF's sustainable development strategy. ZF's remanufacturing business started in the 1960s. Currently, it has 20 remanufacturing bases around the world, distributed in 11 countries and regions, and there are more than 5 500 types of remanufactured products based on part numbers. Compared with manufacturing new parts, remanufacturing used automotive parts can save resources and avoid carbon dioxide emissions. The company has set itself the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2040. ZF is now one of the largest suppliers of remanufactured automotive parts in the world.

Since last year, ZF Aftermarket has accelerated the development of remanufactured products in China. Besides the existing automatic transmissions, valve bodies, transfer cases, and steering gears, control arms and air pumps will also be launched soon. The remanufactured products in the subsequent plans also include air suspensions, new energy reducers, new energy air-conditioning compressors, and inverters, etc.

This year, the ZF Aftermarket remanufacturing factory will be relocated to the COMAC Park in Lingang bonded Area. Thanks to the strong support of the bonded maintenance policy in the Lingang Special Area of Shanghai Free Trade Zone, the new site has brought greater possibilities for the expansion of ZF Aftermarket's remanufacturing and future service product lines. The establishment of the new site has also expanded the coverage of business services, enabling ZF Aftermarket to integrate and coordinate global resources. While highlighting the important position of the Asia-Pacific market, it strengthens the collaborative advantages of local management and resources, radiating the entire Asia-Pacific and even the global market with one remanufacturing and service centre, forming sharing, linkage, and complementarity among various remanufacturing outlets, and gradually expanding from the domestic market to the overseas market. ZF Aftermarket is expected to complete the official relocation by the end of this year and plans to start trial production in the first quarter of next year.

ZF will also continue to strengthen their local partnerships to ensure that the brand maintains close connections with mobile users. Through cooperation with dealers, repair shops and fleets, ZF ensures the delivery of seamless and reliable services. This commitment builds trust and enables partners to provide consistent maintenance and repair solutions, maximizing vehicle uptime.

ZF Aftermarket is actively embracing future trends, responding actively and quickly to cater to the diverse changes in the market, ensuring that we are fully prepared to meet the demands of the future automotive aftermarket while guaranteeing to meet the demands of today, and working Together to Maximize Mobility Uptime.