ZF

In the four technology domains – Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving and Electric Mobility – ZF offers comprehensive solutions for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport and mobility service providers. ZF electrifies different kinds of vehicles. The company contributes to reducing emissions and protecting the climate with its products.

ZF, which acquired WABCO Holdings Inc. on 29th May 2020, now has 160,000 employees worldwide, with approximately 260 locations in 41 countries. In 2019, the two then-independent companies achieved sales of €36.5 billion (ZF) and $3.4 billion (WABCO).

The combination of these two successful enterprises will bring a new dimension of innovation and capability for commercial vehicle systems technology. Thanks to perfectly complementary portfolios and competencies, ZF can offer unprecedented solutions and services for manufacturers and fleets globally. In this way, the company is actively shaping the future of the changing transportation industry.

It was just two years ago that ZF chose Pančevo and Serbia as a location for the biggest European plant of its youngest division, ZF E-Mobility, initiated with an investment of 160 million euros. This bold decision launched the Northern Industrial zone in Pančevo and the company’s Pančevo plant is now operational, featuring 50,000m2 of a fully equipped production facility and a new modern R&D centre that’s gearing up to start working as we speak.

This project is bringing new investors and positively developing the local community, impacting every person in Pančevo.

ZF Serbia continues to act in accordance with its long-term strategy, maintaining its course through the challenges of global crisis and working to accomplish plans and set goals.

Although we have a diverse portfolio, our focus is primarily on electric mobility.

The core of our strategy is the idea that our people, in their own country, in their own city, with their own work and knowledge, know that they build their own better future as part of the successful team of ZF Serbia

We identify and offer solutions for the next generation of mobility and the reduction of global pollution emissions every day.

We work with our customers on ensuring their satisfaction, aware that this is a measure and criterion of world market quality, and the factory in Pančevo received the best marks and daily praise from its most important customers: BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo.

We are particularly proud of that fact, as it is confirmation of the correctness of our strategy and the success of our approach.

During two years working on this project, we have been growing our team and today have 650 people actively working at the Pančevo Plant. Their dedication and engagement are an essential part of the overall success of the project. As we speak, ZF is working on extending the team, with more than 50 new specialists and experts, in order to make the new business ready R&D centre fully operational.

When the factory reaches its full capacity, we expect to have over 1,000 employees in the production programme for electric motors, generators for hybrid and electric drives, gearboxes and microswitches.

A commitment to people is one of the key values of ZF as a company. Through support and encouragement to our employees in the fulfilment of their duties and responsibilities, we are in return provided with their commitment and performance.

Thanks to perfectly complementary portfolios and competencies, ZF can offer unprecedented solutions and services for manufacturers and fleets globally. In this way, the company is actively shaping the future of the changing transportation industry

We are committed to sticking with the people – supporting and building up each individual, promoting behaviours and values to establish an organisational culture that will ensure we are able to move forward together and overcome challenges. Only people that are motivated and equipped with right attitude can stimulate innovation and growth, and support the ambition of our business.

The core of our strategy is the idea that our people, in their own country, in their own city, with their own work and knowledge, know that they build their own better future as part of the successful team of ZF Serbia.

ZF Serbia’s plans remain positive and focused on the successful operation of a large, new, great ZF factory in Pančevo, with great prospects for current and future generations of all people focused on work, quality and success!

MICHAEL STAUCH, MANAGING DIRECTOR – TECHNICAL

As a German, I feel good in Serbia after two years living and working here. I felt very comfortable from the very beginning, observing an environment with influences from many cultures, an open mindset, friendly people and good international flair in Belgrade where we – my family and children – live, and where we quickly integrated.

The whole process of setting up the ZF Serbia plant in Pančevo – based on initial assumptions, research, experience and conditions – was well planned and wellconceived.

Also, during the process we were all confident that, when ideas and visions are supported with an appropriate strategy, hard work, adequate resources and creative people, success will be just a matter of time.

Me and my colleagues, company and partners can only be proud of this project.

Current developments in 2020 regarding COVID-19 did have an impact on our business, but we are committed to our plan of having more than 1,000 employees, developing E-mobility solutions for the future and producing and delivering them beyond Serbia, and I’m looking forward to continuing to be part of that in the time ahead.

MILAN GRUJIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL

We have worked hard and can only be proud of what we have accomplished so far, and to look forward to new challenges.

This project is a great example of partnership between our two countries, Germany and Serbia, and also an example of exceptional cooperation between our company and the Serbian president, Serbian government and institutions, which we believe will lead to achieving ambitious results and capital economic transformation.

We rely on the fact that our company’s goals and values, as well as our management system, are rooted in the sustainable and long-term development of new mobility that is driven and accepted at an increasing pace, as technology is changing the way we live and work. We are aware of global digital acceleration and are determined, together with our customers and suppliers, to rethink our business processes so we can remain relevant and stay on top.

What is significant is that ZF Group is, and has always been, a company that’s led by innovation and future thinking. In that way we can say that we were seeing, thinking and acting ahead of time, and that we now come prepared.

We stay with our vision of next generation mobility and zero emissions, committed to our decisions but flexible with our approach.