GKN Automotive Supplies Millionth eDrive System

GKN joined the party early and didn’t need to wait for a big result for too long – 1,000,000 eDrive systems sold for electrified cars speaks for itself.

This month GKN Automotive is reaching a major milestone of supplying million eDrive systems. Various versions of GKN eDrive are used in popular plug-in hybrids including Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and premium brands like Volvo, BMW and even Porsche.

GKN says that it currently has five semi-integrated two-in-one and three-in-one eDrive series production projects underway in China and Europe for volume OEMs.

The two-in-one means electric motor and transmission, while three-in-one includes also the inverter in a single package.

“GKN Automotive’s family of highly efficient, lightweight, high-power modular eDrive products began with single eDrive transmissions. The company now offers semi-integrated two-in-one eMotor and transmission systems, such as the Electric Rear Axle Drive (eRad) in the Volvo XC60 and XC90, and two other eRad plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicle projects due to enter series production in the next 12 months.

GKN Automotive has continued to pioneer the very latest developments in the industry’s shift to ever more advanced eDrive systems. It is currently supplying a volume OEM with a semi-integrated three-in-one (incorporating eMotor, transmission, and inverter) eRad project for vehicles destined for China and Europe. And later this year, GKN Automotive will supply a global premium OEM with a semi-integrated three-in-one eDrive system.

Common across the portfolio of products is low weight, compact packaging, exceptional efficiency and high power and torque, with scalability enabling designs to be integrated across a wide range of vehicle platforms and packaging requirements.”

Production of those eDrives is conducted in Europe, China and Japan.

“A state-of-the-art 18,000sqm facility in Bruneck, Italy employs over 600 people, and is dedicated predominantly to eDrive production. In China, GKN Automotive’s joint venture – Shanghai GKN HUAYU Driveline Systems (SDS) – is significantly increasing its annual eDrive production from its Shanghai plant and a newly-constructed state-of-the-art facility in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province.

Further supporting increased vehicle electrification requirements in Asia are world-class manufacturing facilities in Japan; one in Tokoname City, and the other in Nagoya, which supplies Mitsubishi with significant volumes of Multimode eTransmission system for its Outlander PHEV, one of the world’s most popular plug-in vehicles.”


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