ZF Group’s Indian arm, ZF India Pvt. Ltd., has secured a multi-year supply program from a leading commercial vehicle OEM for its AxTrax 2 LF electric portal axle. The nomination was finalized in October 2025.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 and will cover several thousand units. The axle will be used in 18-metre articulated buses and 11-metre city buses for both Indian and export markets.
Product Overview
AxTrax 2 LF is a low-floor electric axle developed for city bus applications. It is designed to replace conventional engine, transmission and axle systems in urban buses. The layout uses similar installation space and mounting points as earlier low-floor axles, allowing compatibility with existing bus platforms.
The system integrates braking and suspension components within the axle assembly. Its compact structure is intended to free up space for batteries and passengers in low-floor bus configurations.
Powertrain and Technical Details
The AxTrax 2 LF is based on ZF’s modular eDrive platform. It uses two permanent magnet synchronous hairpin motors along with two independent 800-volt silicon carbide inverters and a central electronic control unit.
The system is available in two continuous power ratings: 260 kW and 360 kW. Peak torque is rated at up to 36,800 Nm. According to the company, the higher-power version enables over 25 percent gradeability for articulated buses weighing up to 30 tonnes with a single driven axle.
An integrated oil cooling system, including an electric pump and heat exchanger, manages temperature and lubrication. The axle supports 6x2 and 6x4 drivetrain layouts and is compatible with battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell and trolley bus platforms.
Software and Electronic Systems
The axle system includes features such as regenerative braking, hill hold, cruise control, acceleration limit, creep function and torque vectoring. It also supports axle condition monitoring and is prepared for over-the-air software updates.
ZF states that the system meets ISO 26262 functional safety standards and complies with regulatory cybersecurity requirements. Thermal management functions are built into the axle assembly.
Integration and Applications
ZF supplies the axle as a complete system, including optional air suspension and wheel-end components. This approach is intended to simplify vehicle integration for bus manufacturers. The AxTrax 2 LF will be deployed in city bus applications aimed at zero-emission operations across domestic and international markets.
