Dana Corporation (NYSE: DCN – news) announced today that it will soon begin production of frame assemblies and driveshafts for the new 2001 full-size Sequoia sport utility vehicle, manufactured by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana.
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The frame will be assembled at Dana’s Structural Products facility, located in Owensboro, Ky. The Sequoia will benefit from Dana’s and Toyota’s commitment to excellence to design the frame with unprecedented NVH characteristics. The front half of the frame is similar in design to the Toyota Tundra pickup and the components for the rear portion are being produced at Dana’s Structural Products facility in Hopkinsville, Ky. The Sequoia will also benefit from the advanced line-sequencing technology that was jointly developed by Dana and Toyota for the Tundra.
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In addition, Dana’s Spicer Driveshaft Group will provide driveshaft technology incorporating Spicer’s patented maintenance free, net-formed cardan universal joints. The one-piece 1310 series swagged (four-inch diameter tubing to three-inch) steel main driveshafts will be supplied for the 4×2 Sequoia model. Spicer Driveshaft’s swagging process for driveshaft tubing, allows for easier tool clearance in the installation and removal of large diameter driveshafts. The group will also supply the front main driveshafts on the 4×4 version. The assemblies will be supplied out of Spicer Driveshaft’s Gordonsville, Tenn., facility.
Vehicle production is anticipated to be 60,000 units per year, which will result in significant increases in shipments of frames and driveshafts to Toyota. Dana also supplies the frames and driveshafts for the Toyota Tacoma pick-up, which is built at New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., located in Fremont, Calif., a joint venture plant between Toyota and GM.
“We are maximizing our people and our assets by utilizing the Owensboro and Hopkinsville facilities to manufacture and assemble the Toyota Sequoia and Tundra frames, said Mike Greene, president of Dana’s Structural Products Group. “We are proud to be a part of these exciting new vehicles.”
Added Joe Sober, Product Director of Dana’s Driveshaft operations, ” We are committed to excellence and quality to ensure the success of this program as we further develop our relationship with Toyota Motor Corporation.”
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By GlobalDataThe Structural Products Group and the Spicer Driveshaft Group are part of Dana’s Automotive Systems Group, which provides Under-The-Vehicle technologies and integrated modules and systems to customers anywhere in the world. The Automotive Systems Group encompasses advanced innovations in Driveline Systems including Spicer® axles and driveshafts, Parish® structures and technologies in chassis systems sub-structures incorporating engine and axle cradles, Nakata® steering and suspensions, FTE® automotive brake and clutch systems, and a systems engineering integration and logistics unit.
Dana Corporation is one of the world’s largest independent suppliers to vehicle manufacturers and their related aftermarkets. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 320 major facilities in 32 countries and employs more than 82,000 people. The company reported sales of $13.2 billion in 1999. Dana’s Internet address is www.dana.com .
