GKN Driveline set to open new Russian factory as demand for its products grows
BIRMINGHAM-based GKN Driveline is strengthening its global footprint with a new automotive manufacturing operation in Russia.
Driveline, the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems, said the Russian market was an increasingly important one for the business.
The company will initially open a 5,000m² plant in Togliatti, a city in the Volga region of Russia, where a number of large car manufacturers are already based.
Production of constant velocity jointed (CVJ) sideshafts for a number of these manufacturers is expected to start in early 2015.
Andrew Reynolds Smith, CEO GKN Automotive, said: “Russia is a key growth market for car manufacturers and this is an important step for GKN. A key part of our strategy is to continue the development of our global footprint, building the capability to add more value for our customers across a range of Driveline products.
“GKN already supplies Driveline products to many of the large car manufacturers in Russia, but the new plant, which is the first of its kind in the country, will offer locally-produced products together with the excellent service our customers already expect from GKN.”
Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components for use in the smallest low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle.
It is a leading global producer of CVJ systems, all-wheel-drive systems, trans axle solutions and eDrive systems and operates in 23 countries at 57 locations employing approximately 22,000 people.
The Russian automotive industry produces more than two million cars each year. Production is forecast to grow driven by increasing demand and government policies that are aimed at creating new production facilities and additional investment in the automotive market.
