GKN Driveline, one of the most prominent suppliers of automotive driveline components and systems in the Indian market, has continued its growth in the country. Presently, the company provides employment to 1000 personnel at its three CVJ Systems plants in the country, located at Faridabad, Dharuhera and Oragadam. With two new plants, the company will employ a total of 1200 people, a hike of 20 per cent.
November 2011 saw the company start operations at its new Rs. 48 crores (£6.6 million) precision forge plant at Oragadam, Tamil Nadu. The facility will be spread over an area of 5000 sq. m., will employ 60 professionals and will be used for providing forgings to the CVJ Systems plant of the company. This CVJ Systems plant is also located in Oragadam and has annual production capacity of 1.2 million sideshafts.
The upcoming 8000 sq. m. unit at Pune will be used for developing the GKN Drivelines CVJ Systems and Trans Axle Solutions product lines. This facility will be developed at a cost of Rs. 130 crores (£18 million); the company will recruit 200 professionals at this factory. It will help the company in fulfilling the requirements of many customers of GKN Driveline, including Fiat, Volkswagen, General Motors, TATA and Renault, as it is located within 30 km of their plants. The unit will be fully functional in September 2012, with yearly installed capacity of 1.2 million CVJ Systems.
Ravindra Ojha, Managing Director of GKN Driveline, India, commented, “GKN Driveline has posted an annual growth rate of more than 15 percent over the past five years in India.” He also said, "India clearly is a critically important market for the company.”
He further quipped, "We expect India to remain a high-growth automotive market for many years to come and will continue to invest here to meet our customers need for CVJ systems, trans-axle components and all-wheel-drive products, as well as products for hybrid and electric-drive vehicles.”
The product portfolio of GKN Driveline comprises CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems. The CVJ Systems offered by the company lower space, weight and fuel consumption in all types of vehicles, from the smallest Ultra-low cost cars to the top end vehicles present in the market. The AWD Systems offered by this manufacturer provide off-roading capabilities to vehicles by improving their handling, stability and traction. The AWD Systems improve these aspects for enhancing the efficiency of the vehicle by allocating power and disconnecting technology optimally in order to support low drag and inertia.
The Trans Axle Solutions offered by the manufacturer include highly durable differentials and torque vectoring solutions for enhancing the capabilities of variegated vehicles. The company has a vast product line that consists of limited slip differentials (LSD), ranging from small super LSDs to large electronically controlled axle lockers. The eDrive Systems developed by the company are aimed at a new generation of fuel efficient, low emission electric and hybrid vehicles. Presently, the electric drive technology developed by GKN Driveline finds application in more than 2,50,000 vehicles.
GKN Driveline is one of the most prominent manufacturers and suppliers of driveline components and systems in the world. The company forayed into India in the 1980s and has gained a strong foothold in the country due to its uniform product quality and timely deliveries. Presently, the company develops unique driveline solutions that cater to the requirements of the clients in terms of environmental performance, efficiency, weight and reliability.
GKN Driveline is a part of GKN plc, which is an international engineering conglomerate that works in the automotive, aerospace and land systems industries. The company operates in more than 30 nations and employs more than 40,000 people through its subsidiaries and joint ventures. The company enjoyed sales of Rs. 39,400 crores (£5.4 billion) in the year 2010. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
