VILLAGRAN, Mexico, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GKN Driveline, the
global leader in advanced and electrified driveline technology, has
started production at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility
in Villagran, Mexico. The new
US$17.5 million facility will serve
Mexico's fast-growing automotive
sector and the strong growth in local and global demand for
all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles.
Phil Swash, GKN Driveline Chief
Executive Officer, said: "The increasing worldwide demand for
all-wheel drive vehicles is fueling growth for GKN's lightweight,
high-performance driveline technologies. GKN is introducing
innovative propshaft designs that save weight, increase efficiency
and that make vehicle integration simpler. This expansion of GKN's
existing footprint in Mexico
strengthens the company's position as the leading driveline system
supplier for global vehicle platforms and will also enable us to
support further growth in Mexico's
automotive sector."
The 130,000-square-foot site is GKN Driveline's second plant in
Villagran, based in the central
state of Guanajuato, a center for
automotive manufacturing. The facility is producing a new type of
higher performance propshaft, the GKN VLi, which is faster to
assemble and can operate at higher rotational speeds.
Customers include Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford,
Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen. At full capacity, the plant
will produce more than one million propshafts a year and will
employ 380 people. It also houses new constant velocity joint
machining facilities, as well as a new propshaft painting line.
Fidel Otake, GKN Driveline
Director for Mexico, said: "With
the start of production on these new lines in Villagran, GKN's long-standing operations in
Mexico are entering a new phase.
This investment brings the latest technology to market in
Mexico, strengthening the support
we provide to an increasing number of automakers and global
programs with local production here."
GKN Driveline established a presence in Mexico in 1979 and now employs 2,075 people
across its three plants.
ABOUT GKN
GKN plc is a global engineering group. It
has four divisions; GKN Aerospace, GKN Driveline, GKN Powder
Metallurgy and GKN Land Systems, which operate in the aerospace,
automotive and land systems markets. Over 55,000 people work in GKN
companies and joint ventures in more than 30 countries. GKN is
listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN) and recorded sales
of GBP7.7 billion in the year ending
December 31, 2015.
ABOUT GKN DRIVELINE
GKN Driveline is the world's
leading supplier of automotive driveline technology and systems. As
a global company serving the world's leading vehicle manufacturers,
GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of
automotive driveline technologies – for use in the smallest ultra
low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding
the most complex driving dynamics. GKN Driveline is a leading
global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions
and eDrive Systems and operates in 23 countries at 46 locations
employing approximately 25,500 people.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366424
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gkn-driveline-starts-production-at-state-of-the-art-mexico-facility-300266892.html
SOURCE GKN Driveline