GKN Driveline Expansion Continues In China

WUHAN, China--July 18, 2013: GKN Driveline continues to expand rapidly in China with the expansion of a key manufacturing facility by Shanghai GKN Driveshaft Co., Ltd. (SDS).

With an investment of approximately £15 million, a new 11,000-square-meter precision forge facility in Wuhan will produce high-accuracy components for driveline systems with an annual capacity of 11 million precision parts. The expansion, driven by customer demand, will mean more capacity and capability to support increasing demand from vehicle manufacturers.

"Vehicle manufacturers are continuing to expand across China, the world's largest vehicle market and the Wuhan plant is located close to customers in the center of China," said Andy Reynolds Smith, CEO GKN Automotive. "It will ensure we are ideally positioned to support the growth in the Chinese market with products produced locally, coupled with a high level of customer service, to further strengthen our customer support."

China is a key growth market for GKN Driveline with vehicle production in the country expected to reach 22 million units by 2014 and 30 million units by 2020.