ZF opens new Wuhan plant to boost smart braking system production in China

Shanghai(Gasgoo)- On October 18, ZF officially launched production at its new brake systems plant in Wuhan, marking not only a major milestone in the company's long-term expansion in China but also the beginning of a new phase in its partnership with the city.

The new facility expands ZF's production capacity for electronic parking brakes (EPB), a technology that enables parking brake activation through electronic control rather than traditional manual levers. Offering clear benefits in both safety and convenience, ZF pioneered the integration of the motor and caliper in 1999 and brought localized EPB manufacturing to China in 2007. Now in its sixth generation, the system has become one of the company's most emblematic achievements in intelligent mechanical engineering.

Looking ahead, the plant is also set to introduce production lines for next-generation electro-mechanical brake (EMB) calipers — a core element of future brake-by-wire systems. By combining electric actuation with mechanical braking, the EMB technology delivers higher precision, responsiveness, and efficiency, paving the way for more intelligent and integrated chassis control.

Dr. Peter Holdmann, Member of the Board of Management at ZF Group, described the Asia-Pacific region—particularly China—as both a strategic growth engine and a global hub for automotive innovation. He noted that China's rapid embrace of intelligent and connected mobility solutions provides ZF with fertile ground for advancing its technological ambitions.

Dr. Peter Holdmann emphasized that ZF continues to strengthen its local R&D and production capabilities in intelligent chassis systems. The company's integrated hardware-software solutions, he added, are emerging as key enablers for the next leap in vehicle performance across China's rapidly evolving auto market.

Since its establishment in 2011, ZF's Wuhan plant has evolved from a single brake component facility into a core manufacturing hub for braking systems across the Asia-Pacific region, having produced more than 70 million sets of brake calipers to date.