Companies in the auto industry are looking to source innovative and the necessary technology and raw materials required to meet the ever increasing demand and we hope next year will allow us to attract investment for the same, says Suresh K V, Country Head, ZF in India. Excerpts:
What is the market size in India for automotive axles and allied components? What is your assessment of domestic versus export potential in today’s market and what can be expected by FY 2020?
For year 2015-16, the market size could be around 750,000 automotive axles and allied components for M&HCV segment. About 85 per cent of production caters to domestic market and balance 15 per cent caters to exports market.
What are the new opportunities emerging in India owing to the government’s initiatives of scrapping old vehicles?
The government’s initiative to scrap old vehicles has opened up new avenues for both the centre and the masses. The scrapping of old vehicles will lead to the manufacturing of new components and vehicles in larger numbers, further providing employment opportunities to many. Additionally, owners of scrapped old vehicles are likely to be presented with a rebates on a new one, adding to their savings. The advancement in technology allows new vehicles to consume less fuel and the incidences on air pollution for the vehicles to be checked. The government in turn earns more through the taxes implied on new vehicles. Moreover, the steel industry has a source of good quality of scrap that would otherwise be imported. On a macro level, the dependency of the foreign imports reduces and savings improve allowing an overall growth of the economy as a whole.
Environmental impact: Many countries introduced scrapping programmes in the 90s, partly legitimated by environmental impact reductions. According to a study in 2010, road transport accounted for 204 million tonne of CO2 emissions in India, and estimates show that this could reach 500 million tonne by 2020. Scrapping of old vehicles will definitely have an impact on these numbers.
Impact on allied industries: Scrapping of old vehicles will have a major impact on the automotive and steel industries. Automobile production (hence jobs and GDP) goes up. The steel industry gets good quality scrap which would otherwise have to be imported. Overall the entire economy gets a boost.
Technology evolution: The other benefits are that the entire fleet of vehicles on the road becomes younger, with more modern technology and cars plying, fuel consumption decreases and pollution is checked.
Cost advantage: To make this scheme successful the government will incentivise the old vehicle users who are willing to scrap their vehicles which will lead to monetary benefits to vehicle owners.
Is this industry adversely affected by slowdown in European and US markets for trucks? If yes, to what extent?
The global recovery from the economic crisis has major implications for the commercial vehicle segment. If not adversely, the slowdown has impacted major OEMs and truck manufacturers. Especially the EU commercial vehicle markets are expected to recover further. In the US, we expect a slight decrease in commercial vehicle sales. We are constantly innovating and evolving in these markets and investing to become the market leaders. For example,
ZF TRW has designed and developed radar in Brest, France since 1999 and started production with its first generation system in 2002. Since then, the company has launched radar on multiple global passenger car and truck platforms, and with the AC1000 family it is entering its fifth generation.
What is your company’s product range? To which auto segments do they cater?
The components and systems manufactured in India cater to a wide segment of applications from construction and mining sector to automotive, commercial vehicle, wind energy sector and so on. Additionally, ZF Group has a significant presence in India through its global portfolio of products. The Powertrain Technology Division supplies transmissions, axle drives and clutch components, as well as suspension and rubber plastic components in its Chassis Technology Division to OEMs manufacturing luxury and high performance passenger cars in India. The other key focus areas for India include rail, special vehicles, aerospace and marine. ZF continues to be a dominant player in the premium bus and truck segment. Currently, we assemble truck transmissions and chassis components (torque rods and V Links) in our Pune facility. For the bus segment, we supply automated manual transmission (6 & 12 speed), manual transmission (6, 9, 12, 16) and automatic transmission (6 speed), front and rear axles, shock absorbers, retarders and clutches.
We also have a strong and growing aftermarket business in the automotive and non-automotive space.
Could you educate us on the new mega trend concepts introduced or likely to be introduced, in your products, in the near future?
Following the integration of TRW, ZF has extended its product portfolio significantly. Now the company can offer these technologies and solutions as a full-spectrum response to the three major mobility megatrends.
Some of the new products which ZF has recently launched in their annual global press event are:
- The Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA), developed with project partner WABCO, automatically steers tractor-trailers around hazardous areas safely and helps to prevent rear-end collisions.
- ZF’s Highway Driving Assist (HDA) actively keeps trucks in the lane and at an appropriate, safe distance from the vehicle in front.
- Advanced assistance functions enabled by the integration of sensors, software and intelligent mechanics help to enhance not only safety but also efficiency, demonstrated by the functionality SafeRange.
What are the elements in demand by the OEMs, to enable connectivity and driver assistance capabilities in passenger vehicles? Are they different for trucks? If yes, in what respect?
OEMs constantly demand innovations which can satisfy their customer requirements. Consumers no longer accept standardised products, but want products that satisfy their individual requirements.
We in ZF constantly innovate technologies to fit the requirements of the modern age. For example, ZF demonstrated the potential inherent in intelligently networking individual chassis/driveline and driver assistance systems, and is presented an exemplary solution for urban individual transport in the compact and sub-compact segments last year. The cloud-based driver assistance function ZF PreVision Cloud Assist provides maximum range and driving safety in the Advanced Urban Vehicle.
Unlike purely GPS-based systems, ZF’s concept study not only takes into account geometry data and information on the permissible top speed, but also stores data in the cloud on the vehicle position, currently driven speed, and lateral and longitudinal acceleration for every journey.
As for trucks and commercial vehicles, ZF in cooperation with WABCO has developed the Evasive Maneuver Assist (EMA) introduced in ZF’s prototype vehicle called ZF Innovation Truck 2016. EMA combined with Highway Driving Assist (HDA) utilises advanced sensors to act as the “eyes” of the system, with intelligent control units and physical manoeuvering performed by the actuators. These features will help to prevent driving distance errors including tailgating and driving off the road.
What is the difference between integrated and independently suspended axles? Similarly, what is the difference between steerable and non-steerable axles?
Integrated/rigid axle: It is I beam with single drop or double drop. It may be cast or forged based on the requirements/application. In case of a bump to either of the wheels during vehicle travel, both the wheels (connected by the beam) get the impact. Beam axles are more conventional type with leaf spring or air springs. For backhoe loaders ZF develops ZF MULTITRAC axels, the types MT-B 3065/3070 and MT-2085 are available for the classical design of the backhoe loader with a rigid rear axle. The axles are intended for high axle loads and have internal, wet multi-disc brakes with high braking torques. The parking brake on the drive flange can be implemented as a disc or multi-disc brake depending on the customer’s requirements.
Independently suspended axles: These are independent suspension arms connected to chassis mainly in cast form that provide more comfort, better ride quality, handling characteristics as acting independent of each other. This has complex design as compared to beam axle and hence costly. Most modern vehicles have independent front suspension (IFS) and many have independent rear suspension (IRS) as well. Comfort, efficiency, reliability – based on these standards, ZF has developed its new ITS 80 F independent suspension for heavy trucks.
Steerable axle: It is axle where the steering being used to give angular movement to wheels. Generally, the front axle is the steerable axle. It needs steering gear and power assistance, gives direction to the vehicle while travel.
Non-steerable axle: This axle of the vehicle does not have angular movement of the wheels. Mainly the rear or driven axles are the non-steerable axles.
Modular rear axle system by ZF enables a vehicle with a twist beam axle or link SLA rear axle to be converted easily to a steerable rear axle concept with just a few modifications to the body. This is based on a non-driven basic axle in which an electric axle drive or a conventional rear axle drive as well as the AKC rear axle steering can be integrated, depending on customer requirements. Thus, vehicle manufacturers can respond extremely flexibly to various market requirements with just one body variant.
What is your Vision 2017 for your product range and company?
For years, the manufacturing sector has been hoping for a revival. With the advent of the ‘Make in India’ programme, the sector has started seeing progress. A significant increase in demand has been witnessed in the auto industry. Companies in the auto industry are looking to source innovative and the necessary technology and raw materials required to meet the ever increasing demand and we hope next year will allow us to attract investment for the same. Overall, the government has been working tirelessly to develop the manufacturing sector and hence we hope that 2017 will bear good tidings for us and the sector overall.
ZF Group has a significant presence in India through its global portfolio of products.
Companies in the auto industry are looking to source innovative and the necessary technology and raw materials required to meet the ever increasing demand and we hope next year will allow us to attract investment for the same.
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