Massive job cuts at ZF: 835 jobs in Schweinfurt affected!

Massive job cuts at ZF: 835 jobs in Schweinfurt affected!

A storm hits ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and the effects cannot be overlooked. The automotive supplier is planning savings of 500 million euros by 2027, which will particularly affect the branches in Bayreuth, Nuremberg and Schweinfurt. A total of 835 jobs are at risk in Schweinfurt, while a further 130 jobs in other areas are at risk. In an article from infranken.de reference is made to the mutual agreement between ZF, the general works council and IG Metall, which provides for a package of measures to reduce the negative consequences.

The package of measures includes, among other things, a voluntary program for termination agreements. A special promotion for partial retirement is offered for employees aged 58 and over. In addition, the weekly working hours of most employees will be reduced by around 7% until the end of 2027 - with exceptions for the ZF Aftermarket and ZF Race Engineering areas. Until further notice, a planned salary increase of 3.1%, originally scheduled for April 2026, must be postponed to October 2026. Employees without a collective agreement can also convert 2.7% of their salary into time off, while the annual pay review is no longer required.

Overview of ZF Friedrichshafen AG

ZF Friedrichshafen AG was founded in 1915 by Ferdinand von Zeppelin and Alfred von Soden-Fraunhofen and has developed from its original role as a manufacturer of gears for airships into one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world. With sales of 41 billion euros in 2024 and around 161,000 employees at around 161 locations in around 30 countries, ZF is a global market leader in the areas of drive and chassis technology as well as active and passive safety technology. As Wikipedia reports, ZF has made significant acquisitions in the past, such as that of TRW Automotive, which significantly strengthened its market position.

In addition, ZF will plan a massive reduction of around 14,000 jobs worldwide in the future, including around 7,600 in the “Division E” drive division. The company initially considered spinning off or selling the division, but has now decided to undertake a comprehensive restructuring to better meet market challenges.

The next steps

The implementation of the measures began on November 1, 2025 and is expected to be completed by February 15, 2026. ZF wants to offer the affected employees support in developing new professional perspectives in order to cushion the economic consequences. Such support is particularly important because many of the employees who are now facing uncertainty have often provided loyal service to the company for several years.

ZF has retained its good knack for innovation and development. Every year, the company invests around 5% of its sales in research and development, which corresponds to around 3.6 billion euros in 2024. The ZF website highlights that the company produces many products, including automatic and manual transmissions, chassis components, and active and passive safety systems. It therefore remains to be seen how the coming changes will affect the company and its employees in the long term.