This week saw GKN Automotive’s Chinese joint venture, Shanghai GKN Huayu Driveline Systems (SDS), open a new technical center which will specialize in the research and development of technologies for constant velocity joints (CVJ), all-wheel drive (AWD) systems and eDrive systems. The opening of the center, located in Shanghai’s Kangqiao suburb, also marks 30 years since GKN became the first Tier One automotive supplier to establish an automotive joint venture in China.
Through its SDS venture, GKN Automotive is expanding its engineering development resources in the region, with more than 300 jobs being created at the facility (including 50% more engineers over the next three years), initially to work with customers in China on local applications of GKN Automotive’s existing eDrive, AWD and CVJ technologies. In the future, the technical center will have the expertise and resources to be the project leader for global development of new products.
John McLuskie, president of GKN Automotive China, said: “The official opening of the new technical center in Shanghai represents another step in a major investment program in what is currently the most significant market for eDrive. Growth of vehicle electrification is accelerating faster in China than anywhere else in the world. GKN Driveline established the first Tier One joint venture of its kind in the country 30 years ago, and SDS is now set to play a leading role in the next era of China’s automotive industry.”
According to SDS, the expansion of its capabilities for GKN Automotive’s eDrive technologies will meet higher demand from new and existing OEM clients, with the development and manufacturing activity initially serving the company’s new business wins, particularly in the field of electrified powertrains.
