Globally, ZF’s aftermarket division holds the position of the world’s second-largest player. In India, however, it currently ranks among the top ten. That’s set to change, as the company charts a focused path to break into the top two within the next five to eight years, Andre Scholle - Vice President and Head of Region India, Türkiye, MEA, CIS, ZF, has said.
According to Scholle, the plan hinges on three key drivers: expanding product coverage (particularly for Asian vehicles), increasing market penetration, and future-proofing the portfolio with digital and connected solutions.
Aligning Global Ambition
Traditionally recognised as a spare parts giant, ZF is now steering its aftermarket strategy towards a comprehensive mobility ecosystem model. With a focus on efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, the company is aligning its global ambition with a hyper-local strategy, positioning India as a cornerstone in its long-term growth roadmap. Scholle added that the country anchors ZF’s India, Middle East, Africa, CIS, and Turkey (IMEA) region—one of the fastest-growing territories for the company globally. With synergies in vehicle platforms, customer behaviour, and aftermarket structures, India’s innovations are poised to influence ZF’s play across similar emerging markets, he mentioned. This region basically “stretches from Cape Town in South Africa to Vladivostok in the East of Russia with India in the middle. So it's the centre of gravity. I think that's the perception change in a German driven company. It's probably the first time that we see that we need to move away from this German centric approach that we've always been driving,” he added.
Abhishek Verma & Andre Scholle
Multi-Line Strategy for Diverse Market Needs
ZF has segmented its aftermarket offerings into four business lines: Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Industrial Solutions, and Digital Services. Each line addresses unique customer demands and service dynamics. While passenger cars require deeper localisation and broader coverage, commercial vehicles benefit from ZF’s strong OE heritage. Digital solutions, meanwhile, act as a unifying layer across all lines, he mentioned.
To support its aggressive localisation plans, the company has begun assembling shock absorbers in Pune, with a target of covering 90% of the Indian vehicle parc by 2027. The company is also exploring aftermarket-specific manufacturing and R&D capabilities in India, strengthening its position as both a market leader and an export hub for other regions like the Middle East and Africa.
Digitalisation - A Strategic Lever
Along with Abhishek Verma – Head, ZF Aftermarket India, Scholle said, digitalisation is central to ZF’s aftermarket evolution. The company is developing India-specific solutions that go beyond retrofitting global models. These include digital fleet management tools, predictive diagnostics, and workshop digitisation platforms. A dedicated digital competence centre in India is working to integrate these solutions seamlessly into the service landscape.
Redefining Aftermarket Ecosystem
ZF's transformation is grounded in its shift from being a parts supplier to a value-creating partner across the aftermarket value chain. Beyond distributors, the company now actively engages with workshops, retailers, and fleet operators. With its 'Mobility Uptime' vision, it aims to provide solutions that are not only product-centric but also digitally intelligent and service-oriented. According to Scholle, “the objective is to meet the demands of today while bridging the gap to tomorrow’s opportunities.” He envisions ZF Aftermarket’s journey in India evolving beyond parts, positioning it instead as a true mobility partner. With a robust distribution backbone, diversified portfolio, digital-first thinking, and a growing service footprint, the company is not only targeting growth but also aiming to shape the future of the Indian aftermarket, he indicated.
Distribution and Customer Reach
Scholle is confident India will play a pivotal role in ZF’s strategy – “local reach with global ambition.” Towards this the company has already established over 500 direct distributor touchpoints and 700 delivery points, reaching deep into Tier-2 and rural markets. This extensive network allows the company to service customers efficiently across the country, reinforcing its focus on proximity and customer-centricity. The goal is clear: “ensure that every spare part is accessible within 48 hours across India,” he said.
Workshop Solutions
In addition, its dual workshop strategy - ZF [pro]Tech Start and [pro]Tech Plus recognise the critical role of workshops in shaping customer experiences. It has already rolled out a few complementary workshop concepts; [pro]Tech Start offers basic repairs and access to essential repair data, while [pro]Tech Plus brings full diagnostics, complex repair capabilities, and digital support. Together, they create a service ecosystem that caters to varying levels of workshop sophistication and vehicle complexity.
Remanufacturing
As part of its commitment to sustainability and resource conservation, ZF has long embraced industrial-scale remanufacturing—giving used automotive components a second life. With over 5,500-part numbers currently being remanufactured across its global plants, the programme shows ZF’s concern for a circular economy and future-ready mobility. While countries in Europe and regions like Turkey have already adopted these practices—with Turkey recently beginning calliper remanufacturing for buses—India remains an untapped opportunity in this space. According to Scholle, ZF is actively evaluating the feasibility of bringing remanufacturing operations to India and other parts of the IMEA region. Though discussions with OEMs in India are still in early stages, the company sees clear potential for localising reman activities as both sustainability priorities and the maturity of the aftermarket ecosystem continue to evolve, he added.
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