SHANGHAI – GKN plc and HUAYU Automotive Systems Co. Ltd. (HASCO.) are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their joint venture Shanghai GKN Drive Shaft Company (SDS). SDS has been operating since 1988 and is the largest driveshaft manufacturer in China producing components for domestic and Western brands from eight manufacturing plants.
 
Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate this landmark, Nigel Stein, CEO GKN, said, "In the mid 1980s, China only produced around 5,000 cars. Now, the auto market here is the biggest in the world with more than 20 million vehicles per year. GKN was the first U.K. company to invest in the automotive components industry in China, and since 1988 SDS has experienced excellent growth. Today, this successful joint venture manufactures 14 million driveshafts per year, bringing leading technology and world-class operational performance to our customers in China. We are delighted to be celebrating this achievement with our partners."
 
Stein joined Shen Jianhua, vice chairman of SAIC; Zhang Haitao, CEO, Hasco; Xue Jinda, managing director, SDS; and Andy Reynolds Smith, CEO, GKN Automotive, to welcome visitors for the ceremony, including a tour of the Kangqiao plant and the SDS Technology Centre.
 
GKN recently announced plans to extend the scope of the SDS joint venture to cover the complete GKN Driveline Systems capability – including all wheel drive and eDrive components and systems.
 
Reynolds Smith commented, "We are committed to strengthening our Chinese operational and technology capability to fully support our global and domestic customers. This development puts SDS in a position to provide cutting edge driveline component and system technology to the rapidly growing all wheel drive vehicle market."
 
SDS now employs more than 4,400 people in eight locations across China.