ZF Group has opened an automotive technology centre in Mexico (Courtesy ZF Group)
ZF Group, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany, has officially opened the campus that will house four corporate function hubs for North America and the company’s first R&D centre in Mexico. The new building joins the advanced electronic components manufacturing plant that began production in 2023, thus completing its Monterrey campus.
Martin Fischer, President of ZF North America and member of the Board of Management, shared, “This centre is of utmost importance to our company regionally and globally, as it will allow us to drive innovation and the development of new technologies, helping us stay at the forefront of the mobility industry. In addition, the hubs of corporate functions such as finance, IT and HR operations, which are also part of this campus, are extremely relevant to guarantee the operation and efficiency of the company, since they serve various regions.”ZF invested $200 million to create the complex. The building that houses the corporate functions and the Research and Development centre was designed under the Office 3.0 concept, based on open spaces that promote collaboration and multi-disciplinary work.
“This investment is a win-win. First, because one thing is certain, that every dollar, peso or euro invested in our state is multiplied, and second, because here they will work on global projects, confirming that Nuevo León has established itself as a new world hub for technology and electromobility,” said Iván Rivas, secretary of economy of Nuevo Leon.
The ZF Electronic Systems Monterrey manufacturing plant produces smart cameras for Advanced Assisted Driving Systems (ADAS) and Integrated Brake Control systems, with capability for fully automated driving in passenger and light commercial vehicles.
The Research and Development centre has 16 laboratories that can perform tests to prevent and correct product failures. Its equipment simulates the real-world conditions a vehicle is exposed to in different environments, allowing engineers to gain accurate information about its behaviour in various situations.
“ZF Monterrey represents a crucial step on our path towards a more sustainable and connected mobility. With this campus, we are creating a unique ecosystem in Nuevo Leon that will drive innovation and the development of disruptive mobility technologies,” Jorge Vazquez, Director of ZF Monterrey and R&D Mexico, stated.
