ZF to close manufacturing facility in Indiana

ZF Friedrichshafen AG blue circular logo with stylized ZF letters

ZF Active Safety & Electronics U.S. will close its facility in Lafayette, Ind., in November. The closure will affect 133 employees. 

The company says the research and development facility at the same location will continue operations. 

[RELATED: ZF launches PowerLine transmission on Freightliner M2 106 Plus]

The Lafayette location makes steering columns, power steering pumps and pitman arms for the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. 

In 2025, local news reports say employees and union members from UAW Local 531 rallied to try to save the plant, which was formerly Ross Gear and TRW. The plant was set to close by March 2027. 

[RELATED: New diagnostic tool from ZF]

"ZF has worked diligently with our customers and partners to identify a path forward for our Lafayette Steering production site," Tony Sapienza told Based in Lafayette at the time. "Unfortunately, a solution was not found." 

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