
GKN Driveline has opened an engineering facility at the MIRA Technology Park in Warwickshire (United Kingdom), the company said in a press release. The GKN Driveline Vehicle Engineering Centre, spread over 2,000 square feet, offers wide-ranging facilities for the installation of prototypes, instrumentation and subsequent road and track evaluations of test cars. The facility will enable GKN to develop integration of its driveline technologies within vehicles for its automotive customers.
“Our new facility at MIRA Technology Park provides our engineering teams with the resources to ensure GKN Driveline’s systems and technology continues to lead the industry, helping to improve both the performance and efficiency of our customers’ vehicles,” said Peter Moelgg president of Technology at GKN Automotive. “This investment signals our commitment to the UK automotive industry and marks our position as a technology leader in the sector,” Moelgg said.
Significance: The new engineering centre at MIRA strengthens GKN Driveline's test facilities and capabilities. The company has been present at MIRA Technology Park, a 1.75 million square feet Enterprise Zone, in the Midlands, for more than three decades. The MIRA Technology Park is an emerging hub in the area of automotive research in the United Kingdom, with the presence of key suppliers such as Bosch, Continental, Haldex, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli and TRW. Apart from suppliers, automakers such as Jaguar Land Rover and Ashok Leyland are also present at the technology park.
GKN is focusing on developing integrated driveline systems and believes MIRA Technology Park as an ideal location to work on those systems with its customers and test them on the proving grounds nearby. Earlier this month GKN announced the development of a complete all-wheel drive (AWD) system for a global platform by Fiat Chrysler, the world’s first tier-one supplier to do so. The company designed, developed and produced the AWD system for the platform which will be used for Fiat 500 X and Jeep Renegade. Last week, GKN said that it will be supplying complete AWD system for SAIC’s MG GS compact SUV.