Continuing the recent trend of major investment by UK automotive companies, GKN, the global engineer, has announced a significant commitment of more than £12m to increase capacity at its Birmingham and Telford facilities, supporting its role as a tier-one supplier to the key automotive brands.
GKN Driveline is part of GKN plc and is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline systems and solutions. The Birmingham facility manufactures propshafts and sideshafts that drive the wheels of most of the vehicles manufactured in the UK each year. The success of UK-built cars like the Range Rover Evoque and Nissan Qashqai are helping to power the plant’s expansion.
Nigel Stein, Chief Executive GKN plc and SMMT President, said, “The UK is proving itself to be a strong automotive performer with a high proportion of exports. The success of our customers and their demand for GKN technology has meant we are now investing to increase capacity. This investment will help ensure the UK automotive sector continues to grow.
“As a longstanding British company that operates in more than 35 countries, GKN has strong relationships with most of the world’s car manufacturers. What we have seen in the UK has been a strong vote of confidence by this sector, supported by government. We are backing their confidence with our investment which will in turn advance the overall UK engineering supply chain.”
The company has already invested some £15m in its Birmingham facility over the past three years to support upgrading and modernising of manufacturing capability and the creation of a UK centre of excellence. In addition to manufacturing, Birmingham is one of GKN Driveline’s engineering design and test facilities that helps to deliver the latest product technology to UK customers.
To read the latest announcements on investment, manufacturing expansion, new vehicle models and employment within the UK’s automotive sector, go to www.smmt.co.uk/industry-topics/uk-automotive/investment/.
