Conventional and electrified driveline systems firm GKN Automotive has come up with its headquarters unit for the Americas region at Auburn Hills in Michigan, US, to capitalize on consumer demand for all-wheel drive (AWD) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) manufacturing.
The facility, offering 20% bigger space for carrying out tests, is expected to offer a common platform for AWD, hybrid and electric vehicle driveline technologies. It has been developed over 168,000ft2 facility on the premises of 11.2-acre site at Opdyke Road.
With its 350-strong staff, GKN's new headquarters houses testing and validation equipment and engineering design spaces for developing driveline and sinter metal products.
GKN Driveline North America's vice-president of engineering Steve LaChance said: "There is growing demand for AWD capability, particularly here in North America, as consumers want to have safer, more fuel efficient vehicles, but still maintain the characteristics of ride and handling that make driving exciting.
"GKN has the ability to develop and manufacture complete AWD systems, including both the hardware and the software and tuning capabilities to deliver a brand-aligned driving experience, and integrate them into our customers' vehicles."
Claiming to provide a fully-integrated AWD system, the company said FIAT 500X and the Jeep Renegade, by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles which adopts GKN's driveline from transmission to wheel, are based on it.
The software designed by GKN, which provides constant-velocity-joint, all-wheel-drive, trans-axle and electric-drive systems, ensures that the drive dynamics align with the system supplied by other brands.
GKN Driveline Americas president Robert Willig said: "This new facility is located in the heart of the global auto industry and is well-situated to serve our customers and continue to attract top talent.
"We have been headquartered in Auburn Hills since 1986 and have seen Oakland County and the state of Michigan continue to grow in automotive industry prominence. This is an incredible location for operating in today's global auto industry."
Besides, GKN is looking into ways to come up with hybrid AWD, riding high on its transmissions and eAxles for electric and hybrid vehicles. The company has a staff headcount of 26,500 worldwide, spread across 22 countries.
Image: GKN Automotive's regional headquarters for the Americas in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Photo:courtesy of GKN Automotive/PRNewswire.
