GKN Driveline Japan to merge with GKN Driveline Asia Pacific New President appointed for GKN Driveline Japan Ltd

Tochigi, Japan, 31st March 2011

GKN Driveline Japan will merge into the GKN Driveline Asia Pacific organisation on 1st April 2011. It will be led by Marc Vuarchex, managing director, GKN Driveline Asia Pacific.

Marc Vuarchex is also appointed president and representative director, GKN Driveline Japan Ltd. (head office at 1150 Daikoji-machi, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan).

Nigel Stein, chief executive officer of GKN Driveline said “GKN Driveline in Japan has made tremendous progress in the last three years, successfully riding out the economic crisis. This change will allow GKN Driveline to grow our business across the region by better utilising the outstanding research and development and engineering expertise we have in Japan for the benefit of the whole Asia Pacific region.”

As a result of this change, GKN Driveline Japan will merge with GKN Driveline Asia Pacific. At the same time, Eiji Imai, current president and representative director of GKN Driveline Japan Ltd, will leave GKN.

Sadaaki Watanabe is appointed operations director of GKN Driveline Japan, and he will work towards further strengthening the business in Japan with Marc Vuarchex. There is no change in the company name and locations for GKN Driveline Japan Ltd.

GKN Driveline’s product segments include:
 

CVJ Systems
• GKN Driveline’s constant velocity joint systems provide space, weight and fuel savings with greater all round efficiency.
• GKN Driveline supplies the most extensive range of CVJ systems – used in the smallest ultra-low cost car through to the most sophisticated premium vehicle.

AWD Systems
• GKN Driveline has full all-wheel drive systems capability
• GKN Driveline’s all-wheel drive couplings improve vehicle handling, stability and traction by intelligently distributing power and disconnecting technology can supplement low drag and inertia for ultimate efficiency

Trans Axle Solutions
• GKN Driveline produces highly durable open differentials and has the most extensive range of limited slip differentials, from the smallest super LSD to the largest electronically controlled axle locker
• For the ultimate capability, GKN Driveline’s torque vectoring solutions provide the answer

eDrive Systems
• GKN Driveline’s pioneering electric drive technology is used in 200,000 vehicles today
• GKN Driveline’s eDrives are designed for the new generation of fuel efficient, low emission electric and hybrid vehicles
 

About GKN Driveline Japan
GKN Driveline Japan Ltd is a key location in global research and development as well as manufacturing for GKN Driveline. It has the paid-up capital is 7.663 million yen and 1,400 employees. The head office is located in Tochigi City and there are operations in Tochigi and Nagoya. It also has a Proving Ground where various vehicle testing is conducted.

About GKN Driveline Asia Pacific
GKN Driveline Asia Pacific has its headquarters in Singapore and has 16 facilities in eight countries including Australia, China, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand.
 

About GKN Driveline
GKN Driveline is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.
GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, TransAxle Solutions and eDrive System.

About the GKN Group
GKN plc is a global engineering business serving mainly the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more than 30 countries, around 38,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of £5.4 billion in the year to 31December 2010. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
www.gkn.com

Company Contact
Paul Dinwiddy
Global Communication Director
GKN Driveline
Tel: + 44 1527 533 646
Mob: + 44 7801 077 523
Email: paul.dinwiddy@gkndriveline.com
 

Media Contact
Yoshinori Yamaguchi
Inoue Public Relations
Tel: + 81 35 269 2301
E-mail: yamaguchi@inoue-pr.com

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