Interview: Stefan Sommer, Chief Executive, ZF

ZF shook up the supply base with its mammoth acquisition of TRW earlier this year, forming what is widely regarded as one of a select few ‘mega suppliers’. In fact, the US$11.7bn deal in May formed the world’s second largest automotive supplier, and integrated TRW’s specialism in active and passive safety technologies into a new division.

At the time, Stefan Sommer, Chief Executive of ZF, commented that pairing with TRW would leave ZF better positioned to benefit from major trends in the industry, “by building on the strengths of both companies.” Automotive World spoke to Sommer to understand how the deal is progressing in the face of potentially disruptive global trends and events.