Chennai – In a move that’s got the commercial vehicle industry revving with excitement, ZF Group in India has inked a strategic alliance with a leading Indian CV OEM to supply its advanced transmission solutions for high-horsepower trucks. And no, this isn’t just any gear game — we’re talking EcoMid and EcoTronic Mid, 9-speed powerhouses tailored for India’s next-gen, torque-thirsty trucks pushing beyond the 300HP mark.
Signed, sealed, and turbocharged in March 2025, the agreement covers the supply of several thousand transmissions, all proudly manufactured at ZF’s high-performance pit stop in Chakan, Pune. Yes, it’s “Make in India for India,” with just the right blend of muscle, mileage, and made-to-order German engineering.
“This is not just a deal; it’s a torque treaty,” quipped Akash Passey, President, ZF Group India. “ZF has been around for over 60 years, and we’re not just shifting gears, we’re shifting paradigms. Our transmissions don’t just move trucks — they move the industry forward.”
P. Kaniappan, Sr. VP at ZF, added, “The EcoMid and EcoTronic Mid are like the Sachin and Dravid of transmissions — reliable, high-performance, and built to handle pressure. This partnership marks our entry into the heavyweight championship of the CV world.”
The two transmission types — manual EcoMid and automated EcoTronic Mid — are engineered for trucks in the >25-ton segment, and offer 9-speed efficiency, improved fuel economy, and longer clutch life. Also on offer: less driver fatigue, smoother drives, and a whole lot more power on the pedal — enough to make even the steepest ghat blush.
With a future roadmap that includes 12-speed options and torque ratings up to 3200 Nm, ZF is clearly not just driving into the future — it’s doing a clean downshift, rev match, and overtaking the competition in style.
And so, as India’s roads prepare for a transmission transformation, ZF and its unnamed but mighty OEM partner are proving that good partnerships aren’t just built on horsepower — but on the power to keep India moving, one perfect shift at a time.
