GKN DRIVELINE INTERNATIONAL GMBH

Their core work

GKN Driveline International is a tier-1 automotive supplier headquartered in Lohmar, Germany, specializing in driveline systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles — driveshafts, e-drive units, and all-wheel-drive systems supplied to major vehicle manufacturers globally. In H2020 research, they contributed industrial engineering expertise to hybrid powertrain projects and integrated e-axle development for electric vehicles, bridging laboratory concepts and mass-market manufacturing. Their participation in EU projects reflects a deliberate strategic shift from conventional driveline components toward full electrification, with particular focus on making advanced EV drivetrain technology production-ready. As one of the world's largest driveline manufacturers, they bring a scale and supply-chain credibility that few academic or SME partners can match.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first H2020 project (2015–2018), GKN worked on hybrid powertrain competitiveness for commercial vehicles — a domain still closely tied to combustion engine systems with electrification as an add-on. By 2019, their focus had shifted entirely to electric vehicle architecture: integrated e-axles, energy density optimization, and SiC-based power electronics for third-generation EVs. The trajectory is unambiguous — from hybrid bridging technology toward full electrification engineering, with increasing emphasis on making that technology manufacturable at scale.

GKN Driveline is moving from hybrid drivetrain integration toward fully integrated e-axle systems optimized for cost-effective mass production — a strong alignment with the current EV industry inflection point and a clear signal for future collaboration on electric mobility industrialization.

How they like to work

GKN consistently joins consortia as a participant rather than leading projects, reflecting their role as an industrial partner who validates and industrializes research outcomes rather than driving the research agenda. Both projects involved large, multi-partner consortia — 40 unique partners across 10 countries from just two projects — demonstrating they work comfortably in complex, multi-stakeholder environments typical of large Innovation Actions. For potential partners, this means GKN brings manufacturing credibility and industry validation but is unlikely to take on coordination responsibilities.

GKN has engaged 40 unique consortium partners across 10 countries through just two projects, indicating broad exposure to European automotive and mobility research networks. Their partnerships span both research institutions and industrial players typical of large Innovation Action consortia in the transport sector.

What sets them apart

GKN Driveline brings what most research partners cannot: the production and supply chain credibility of a global tier-1 driveline supplier with millions of units delivered annually to major automakers. When a consortium needs to demonstrate a clear pathway from prototype to mass-market adoption, GKN's presence signals industrial seriousness that strengthens both the proposal and the final deliverable. Their specific focus on e-axle manufacturability and SiC integration makes them particularly valuable for EV drivetrain projects that need to close the gap between TRL 5–6 lab results and actual vehicle production.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FITGEN
  GKN's largest H2020 project (EUR 221,900), targeting third-generation e-axle systems for mass-market EVs with advanced keywords spanning SiC power electronics, high-speed e-machines, and manufacturability — directly at the commercial heart of the EV transition.
• ECOCHAMPS
  GKN's entry into EU research collaboration, addressing hybrid powertrain competitiveness for commercial vehicles at the critical industry inflection point between combustion and electrified drivetrains.