
ZF Friedrichshafen, which agreed to buy TRW Automotive Holdings for $11.7 billion on Sept. 15, sees a need for more acquisitions as even the largest auto suppliers seek size and technology.

ZF Friedrichshafen, which agreed to buy TRW Automotive Holdings for $11.7 billion on Sept. 15, sees a need for more acquisitions as even the largest auto suppliers seek size and technology.
German auto supplier ZF Friedrichhafen’s net debt will rise to some €8.5 billion ($11 billion), or about 2.4 times core earnings (EBITDA), after it buys rival TRW, a banker familiar with the deal said.
Earlier this week, ZF agreed to buy U.S.-based TRW for $13.5 billion including debt, paying $105.60 in cash for each TRW share, or nearly $12 billion based on shares outstanding.

By Brian O’Connell
It’s all champagne and caviar for automakers, as U.S. car, SUV and truck sales are at an eight-year high. Fiat Chrysler reported sales up 20% so far in 2014, while BMW reported an 11% gain through August.
Ford of Europe revealed the all-new S?MAX seven-seat sports activity vehicle. The new S-MAX will debut Ford Adaptive Steering technology in Europe for optimized response to driver input when it goes on sale in 2015.
Ford of Europe has unveiled the new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX prior to the Paris Motor Show. The models offer significantly improved CO2 figures and for the first time feature as standard Ford’s Auto-Start-Stop technology on EcoBoost gasoline and 2.0-liter TDCi diesel engines. The most improved model is expected to offer a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions.