China – Growing global demand for all-wheel drive (AWD) systems has required the addition of five AWD production lines at two facilities operated by Shanghai GKN HUAYU Driveline Systems (SDS). The investment has doubled the company’s capacity for AWD production in China.
The new lines will focus on the manufacture of power transfer units (PTU) and rear drive modules (RDM), supplying both domestic and global customers. In 2015, GKN localised production of PTUs and RDMs for Jaguar Land Rover models, including the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport, and has other projects for OEMs in the next two years.
“As the only AWD supplier that has designed, produced and integrated a complete AWD system in-house, GKN is the logical choice for global and local automakers in China,” commented Peter Moelgg, chief executive of GKN Driveline’s AWD and eDrive division. “The expansion of our SDS joint venture’s engineering and production capabilities positions GKN for further growth as automakers introduce more advanced AWD and electric AWD (eAWD) systems in China.”
SDS was established in 1988 and now has facilities in Shanghai, Wuhan, Changchun and Chongqing. The workforce includes more than 3,200 engineers, managers and production staff.