Bosch To Acquire All Shares In ZF Lenksysteme

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Bosch To Acquire All Shares In ZF Lenksysteme

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:
Until now, ZFLS, based in Schwabisch Gmund, Germany, has been a 50:50 joint venture between Bosch and ZF.
STUTTGART, Germany – Bosch is planning to increase its stake in ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (ZFLS) to 100 percent. On Sept. 15, Robert Bosch GmbH and ZF Friedrichshafen AG signed an agreement to this effect. Purchase price will not be disclosed, the two companies stated.
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Until now, ZFLS, based in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, has been a 50:50 joint venture between Bosch and ZF. Employing more than 13,000 associates in eight countries, ZFLS develops, produces and sells steering systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles worldwide. In 2013, it registered sales of approximately 4.1 billion euros. With a total of 20 locations, the company is active in the world’s most important automotive markets. Alongside locations in Europe, the U.S., and China, ZFLS also produces in India, Brazil, and Malaysia.

“With its complete takeover of ZFLS, Bosch is strengthening its ability to actively shape the future of mobility. The company is a technological leader in the growth area of electric power steering, and precisely this is the core technology for automated driving, for more efficient vehicles, and also for electric cars,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

ZFLS already generates some 60 percent of its total revenue with modern, fuel-efficient electric power steering systems.

“Since 1999, ZFLS has experienced strong growth, and has also developed very successfully as a result of the excellent collaboration between ZF and Bosch. I would like to sincerely thank all ZFLS associates for their hard work and dedication over the years,” said Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG. “In order to continue to be able to meet the demands of an ever-more dynamic business environment, Bosch and ZF have decided to change the ownership structure of ZFLS.”

In related news, ZF announced this past August that the company’s American location in Vernon Hills, Ill. –  ZF Services LLC –  will assume responsibility for the independent aftermarket sales and distribution of ZF Lenksysteme passenger car products in North America.

The transaction is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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