The importance of the Chinese market is increasingly prominent "(Witness · China Opportunities)

China is the world's largest automotive market. By continuously introducing new technologies and increasing added value, the Chinese automotive industry is achieving greater development, "said Holger Klein, CEO of Germany's ZF Group, in an interview with our reporter. As a global technology company, ZF will continue to increase its investment in the Chinese market, adhere to innovation, continue to promote localization, and continuously enhance the position of the Asia Pacific region dominated by the Chinese market in the ZF global market.

ZF is an important global automotive parts supplier that entered the Chinese market in 1981. At present, ZF has set up its Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai, and has opened 5 research and development centers and nearly 50 manufacturing factories across China. In 2023, ZF's sales in the Chinese market reached a new high of 8.1 billion euros, an increase of 5.2% over the previous year.

Ke Haozhe has worked and lived in China for a long time, and has a firsthand experience of the Chinese market and development. Ke Haozhe stated that ZF and local Chinese vehicle companies have grown together and achieved mutual benefit and win-win results through mutual learning. At present, ZF's business in China accounts for about 20% of the entire group's business, and the future goal is to increase this proportion to 30%. This year, ZF invested in a safety airbag production base project and an automotive brake product line upgrade project in Wuhan, and a new research and development center established in Guangzhou has been put into operation.

The Chinese economy has strong growth momentum, the size of the Chinese market is extremely attractive, and China's innovation capability is equally important. Chinese customers have a very high acceptance of new technologies, which enables us to develop the latest technologies in China and promote them globally. "Ke Haozhe gave an example that when ZF launched its first 800 volt silicon carbide electric drive system, its first customer was from China. After more than 40 years of development, ZF has gone through stages such as "Chinese sales", "Chinese manufacturing", "Chinese research and development" in China, and the importance of the Chinese market has become increasingly prominent.

Ke Haozhe said that for ZF, China has become one of the important bases and innovation centers for global product and technology launch. Currently, ZF is collaborating with Chinese partners to introduce wire controlled steering and rear wheel steering technology into the Chinese market, and accelerating the expansion project of its Zhangjiagang base to achieve localized production of rear wheel steering systems. This project will significantly reduce costs and promote the upgrading and development of the automotive parts industry chain.

Ke Haozhe stated that China is vigorously promoting green transformation and sustainable development, providing new opportunities for ZF's development in China. During the recently held 2024 Hanover International Transport Expo in Germany, ZF signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese companies to introduce advanced commercial vehicle hybrid drive systems into the Chinese market. ZF is also involved in wind power transmission business and has set up a factory in Tianjin to produce components for wind turbines.

Ke Haozhe stated that technological development is advancing rapidly, and if trade barriers are artificially set up and trade protectionism is implemented, it will harm the interests of most enterprises. More exchanges and dialogues should be conducted between Germany and China, as well as between Europe and China, to enhance mutual understanding and continuously strengthen cooperation. I believe that free trade and fair competition will make all businesses more dynamic, thereby promoting global economic development, "said Ke Haozhe.