GKN says its technology is contributing to providing answers to increasingly complex environmental pressures as regulatory pressure combined with consumer demand show no sign of dissipating.
Relentless recent headlines surrounding the diesel sector have brought fuel choice to the fore, but GKN, still fighting off a bid from manufacturing investor, Melrose, is confident its lightweight solutions can provide OEMs with a competitive advantage.
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This week marks a crucial point in GKN’s battle to retain much of its existing structure with investor company Melrose unveiling a ‘final offer’ as part of its hostile bid to take control of the British supplier. The latest bid has been increased by around 10%.
Meanwhile reports are circulating Dana CEO, James Kamsickas is currently in the UK meeting GKN shareholders after the British company’s board agreed a deal late last week to merge its driveline division with the American operation, but in the meanwhile, it is business as usual on the technology front.
“I think it is more [of a] social and political aspect because of the environmental agendas selling to the end customer,” GKN Driveline CEO, Peter Moelgg told just-auto at the British supplier’s recent Wintertest in Arjeplog, Northern Sweden, where it was showcasing its new SUV technology research vehicle, highlighting work in eDrive, All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and systems integration.
“They are giving direction to the OEMs, that is targetting technology; technology is the solution to the problem. Because this is our way really to bring and to contribute to the environmental agenda for mobility. It takes vehicles to zero emission.
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By GlobalData“The standards that are applied are industry standards and we as a company are focused on pure mobility. There are more and more companies providing that in different places.”
In Arjeplog, just shy of the Arctic Circle, GKN was showcasing its portfolio using the Technology Demonstrator 2018 (GTD18) based on a Mercedes-AMG GLA 45, featuring mechanical and electric Twinster torque vectoring, a plug-in hybrid system and re-engineered control systems.
Following initial testing at GKN Driveline’s Lohmar R&D centre in Germany, the GTD18 started deeper validation and proof-of-concept demonstrations recently at the supplier’s Wintertest facility in northern Sweden.
“Every car needs a driveline and our aim is to get the most clever way of developing that,” added Moelgg. “Maybe the number of cars is not going to increase in eternity, but how the cars are run will be completely different.
“The building blocks are becoming standard components to a great extent. If you look to an etwinster, it is lighter than a combustion engine and gearbox, but it has the same functionality.
“Our technology is already lighter than mechanical systems.”
