Automotive Highlights

GKN Driveshafts, the largest business within GKN Driveline, is the global leader in the manufacture of constant velocity jointed (CVJ) products for use in light vehicle drivelines.

It produces some 113 million CVJs annually representing approximately 40% of global production and has a 20% share of global demand for premium propshafts. Torque Technology Group develops and manufactures a broad range of driveline products which deliver power to a vehicle’s wheels and manage that power to control the dynamic performance of the vehicle. The European IDS aftermarket business provides a range of components to the passenger vehicle aftermarket, and repairs and replaces heavy duty propshafts.

Other Automotive companies manufacture structural components, engine cylinder liners and substrates for catalytic converters for light vehicle and truck applications.

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Automotive comprises:

• GKN Driveline
• Other Automotive  

01 Investment in the world’s fastest growing economies has been a major feature of GKN’s strategic development. Here an operator at the Group’s new Driveline manufacturing plant in Oragadam, India, opened in early 2008, examines the outer race of a constant velocity joint.

02 A Mitsubishi Evolution high performance coupé, which uses GKN’s Helical Limited Slip Differential, is powered around the GKN test track at Tochigi in Japan by Torque Technology engineering staff.

03 GKN’s electronic torque vectoring technology is at the heart of this latest generation traction control device fitted on BMW’s new X6 unveiled in early 2008.

Milestones achieved in 2007

May

Construction begins on a new driveline manufacturing facility in India

The facility in Oragadam, near Chennai, covering an area of 10,000 square metres, will produce sideshafts for Hyundai and Ford in India. The site includes a state of the art test centre and has an annual production capacity of 600,000 vehicle sets.

July

First production application for electronic torque vectoring technology

Electronic torque vectoring hardware units, which allow individual wheel torque distribution, will be supplied to system leader ZF for the ‘Vector-Drive’ rear axle. The system, which increases driving dynamics and safety reserves of all wheel drive and rear wheel drive vehicles, is planned for volume application in future BMW models.

August

First contract to supply power transfer units to Chery, China’s largest independent car maker

The new power transfer unit, which provides full-time or on-demand torque distribution for front wheel drive based all wheel drive vehicles, will be used on a sports utility model due for launch in 2009. The contract builds on GKN’s existing commercial and engineering links with Chery, one of the world’s fastest growing car manufacturers.

December

GKN Driveline India helps launch the world’s cheapest car

The Tata Nano, which utilises lightweight, ultra low-cost driveshafts developed by GKN Driveline, will sell for 100,000 rupees or £1,300. The Tata Group, one of India’s leading automotive manufacturers, will initially produce about 250,000 Nanos and expects annual demand to reach one million cars.