ZF to provide “several thousands” of AxTrax 2 for intercity e-buses in India

A “leading customer in India” will provide “several thousands” of intercity electric buses powered with ZF’s AxTrax 2 electric axle. The major order was announced by ZF division Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS), that states in its press note that the AxTrax 2 will be “integrated into a new fleet of zero-emissions intercity buses”.

ZF has reported sales of €41.4 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, reflecting an 11% decline compared to the previous year. According to a reporting by German newspaper Handelsblatt out in February 2025, ZF is evaluating a full spin-off of its Electrified Powertrain Technologies division under a project called “Verde”. Such move wouldn’t affect the Commercial Vehicles division. Last year the group said that the number of ZF employees in Germany will be gradually reduced by around 11,000 to as many as 14,000 by the end of 2028 within the Electrified Powertrain Technologies division.

Indian electric bus market keeps growing

The Indian market has witnessed 3.6K electric bus registrations in 2024. However, In the heavy sector, the share of e-buses in 2024 was 12.5%, while considering the entire bus market (also including 3.5 – 5 ton vehicles) it stands at 6.2 percent. In India’s 2024 HPV electric bus market, Tata Motors led with 1,431 registrations, capturing 40% of the market share. Olectra Greentech and JBM Auto (that just secured an order for 1,021 electric buses under the Government of India’s PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme-2 initiative) followed, registering 630 and 556 units respectively, representing 17.7% and 15.6% of the market.

The AxTrax 2 electric axle is designed to replace the engine, transmission and conventional axle to electrify a commercial vehicle, delivering 210 kW of continuous power. Part of ZF’s modular e-mobility kit, the AxTrax 2 integrates in-house developed components into a new generation axle-based solution (following the AxTrax, formerly known as AVE 130, launched over 10 years ago).

“This nomination demonstrates how leading manufacturers across the globe are increasingly attracted to our comprehensive technology portfolio,” said Prof. Dr. Peter Laier, Member of the ZF Board of Management, head of the Commercial Vehicle Solutions division and responsible for the India Region. “It shows how our tailored solutions support manufacturers at every stage of their electrification journey, enabling them to accelerate their transformation towards cleaner, more efficient mobility. We are delighted to support our customers in this transition. By leveraging the synergy effects created by our cross-divisional expertise in the field of electric drives, we are able to deliver the innovative and reliable e-mobility solutions that also help reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)”.