..:: AUTO REPORT AFRICA ::..
Related Articles
(By Olaolu Olusina)
Nexteer Automotive, a leader in intuitive motion control, is set to open its first production facility in Africa. The ground-breaking ceremony of the new 18,000 m2 facility located in Kenitra, Morocco, is scheduled to hold later in March 2018. Nexteer said it plans to initially use the facility to manufacture Single Pinion-assist Electric Power Steering (SPEPS) systems and later extend manufacturing to driveline products in the future.
The facility, which is due to begin production in 2019, will become Nexteer’s 25th plant globally with the development being been described as a strategic footprint expansion to drive operating efficiencies and enhance customer responsiveness.
This is as the company strategically continues to expand its global manufacturing capabilities and align itself with its customers’ targeted regions. Consequently, Nexteer drives greater efficiencies, responsiveness and strengthens relationships with its global OEM customers.
It would be recalled that in July 2017, Nexteer representatives signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan Government to confirm its investment plans.This was followed on December 11, 2017 with the signing of the official agreement by His Majesty King Mohammed VI as well as Moroccan Government officials and Nexteer Automotive representatives in Casablanca, Morocco.
In a statement obtained from the company’s website, Hervé Boyer, vice-president and chief operating officer Europe and South America Division at Nexteer, said: “Nexteer’s key differentiators include our global manufacturing footprint and our in-house capabilities in producing high-quality, safety-critical steering and driveline systems.
“By establishing a new facility in Morocco, we are strategically aligned with our global customers’ needs. This location will also allow us to expand our geographic operations’ reach in both Africa and Europe. We are appreciative of the Moroccan authorities’ cooperative approach and their plans for infrastructure development.”
Nexteer Automotive is a multi-billion dollar global steering and driveline business delivering electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steering columns, driveline systems as well as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving technologies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
With a global workforce of over 13,000, serving more than 50 customers in every major region of the world, the company has 24 manufacturing plants, three technical centres and 14 customer service centres strategically located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive’s customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, PSA Group, Toyota and VW, as well as automakers in India and China.
Source: www.nexteer.com
