GKN Driveline has invested EUR4.5 million (USD4.9 million) to expand drive shaft production capacity at its Eskişehir plant in Turkey, the Driveline business unit of GKN said in a press release. The expansion resulted in doubling the plant total area to 6,300 square metres and ramping up of drive shaft production capacity to 1.8 million units per year. GKN added an expansion line and expanded warehousing facilities at the Eskişehir plant. The UK-based supplier currently employs 130 people at the Turkish plant, with plans to add 70 more jobs over the next five years. “Turkey is a growing market for GKN Driveline and this expansion will enable us to meet the emerging needs of our customers,” said Andy Reynolds Smith, chief executive of GKN Automotive, which includes GKN Drivelines and GKN Metallurgy Powder business units.
Significance: GKN Driveline started operations at its Eskişehir plant in 2010. The plant supplies driveline components to automakers such as Ford, Renault, Honda, Fiat and Toyota, which have manufacturing presence in Turkey. Turkey has become a key vehicle manufacturing hub, thanks to its strategic location, which makes it an ideal place to cater Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) markets. According to IHS Automotive, light vehicle production in Turkey increased to 1.12 million units in 2014 from 1.06 million units in 2010. IHS forecasts light vehicle production to continue growing in coming years and reach 1.33 million by 2019.
