ZF Group has inaugurated a new electric parking brake (EPB) production line at its Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu, marking a major expansion of its braking business in the Indian passenger car market. The move comes as China’s rapid shift toward electric, connected and software-defined vehicles has generated strong demand for advanced electronically controlled braking technology.
The new production line formalizes the full industrialization of the Oragadam EPB system, positioning India as a key manufacturing and engineering hub within ZF’s global network. ZF already supplies EPB units to leading Indian OEMs, including newly launched electric passenger cars.
The plant is designed for high-volume production and can produce up to 800,000 EPB units per year at peak capacity. This growth is supported by a strengthening ecosystem of domestic suppliers of precision machinery and electronic components.
Mr. Akash Passey, President of ZF Group India, said that this investment advances ZF’s strategy of “Made in India, benefiting India and the world” and marks the beginning of a new growth phase. He noted that Oragadam combines cutting-edge technology with strong local engineering and manufacturing capabilities to serve domestic and global markets.
ZF board member Dr. Peter Holdmann said braking systems are evolving into software-enabled safety solutions. He explained that ZF’s EPB replaces the traditional mechanical handbrake with an electronic control system designed for electric and software-driven vehicles, with the advantages of low drag efficiency, extended electric vehicle range and reduced NVH levels.
Andreas Moser, Regional Board Member for Commercial Vehicle Solutions, Industrial Technology and India, said the plant reflects India’s growing importance as a base for innovation and manufacturing. He added that the EPB series supports OEMs’ growing expectations for value-driven mobile technologies.
The Oragadam plant is ZF’s 10th plant in Tamil Nadu and plays a central role in the company’s India roadmap and is an expansion base for light commercial vehicles. The new EPB system integrates a broader braking architecture and supports functions such as dynamic drive, emergency brake assist and brake pad wear sensing, providing OEMs with cross-platform flexibility.
Globally, ZF has supplied more than 250 million EPB calipers. With the addition of the Oragadam range, India is now an integral part of ZF’s global supply chain for advanced braking and chassis technologies.