The Fiat 500X and the Jeep Renegade will be among the first ever to use a new innovative all-wheel system manufactured by GKN Driveline, a Tier 1 auto supplier with North American headquarters in Auburn Hills.
“This is a milestone program for GKN in our evolution as a driveline system integrator,” says Hannes Prenn, global program director of GKN Driveline. “This is the first time a supplier has been responsible for the design, development, and production of a complete all-wheel drive system.”
FCA US (Chrysler), the manufacturer of Fiat and Jeep vehicles, sources the complete system from GKN, which includes propshafts, the rear differential module, and sideshafts. GKN integrated a number of features to the driveline system in an effort to save space and cut down on costs and increase efficiency.
“The result is a high-performance system that offers optimum efficiency, weight, and packaging,” Prenn says. He says the product can be modified to fulfill the requirements of both urban cars and off-road vehicles.
GKN Driveline is a supplier of automotive driveline components and systems, including AWD systems, trans axle solutions, and eDrive systems. The company employs nearly 27,000 people in 22 countries.
