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New European Executive Director Appointed
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Delphi Steering operations in Europe has transitioned to Nexteer Automotive, a new independent tier-one supplier focusing on Electric Power Steering (EPS). The multi-billion dollar business has the broadest portfolio of EPS architectures of any supplier and is the only EPS specialist with production experience in every passenger car segment. Its history of innovation includes a number of steering safety and performance features, including permanent assist, which it was the first to bring to market in 1999.
Nexteer Automotive has 6,200 global employees serving more than 60 vehicle manufacturers in every major region of the world. It expects that advances in its technology, combined with its ability to support global customers, will help automakers introduce EPS in a wider range of cars and light commercial vehicles.
The push toward increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions is driving vehicle electrification on a global level and EPS is one of the key technologies helping automakers meet new CO2 requirements. According to Nexteer, removing a hydraulic steering system's drag on the engine and replacing it with an on-demand electrically powered system reduces fuel consumption which corresponds to 5 to 6 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
Laurent Bresson has been appointed as Nexteer Automotive's new Executive Director in Europe and Executive Director of its Global Sales & Marketing operations: "Nexteer is the industry's only supplier with EPS systems suitable for every kind of passenger car from A-segment city cars to luxury limousines and SUVs" says Bresson. "Since 1999, we have put more than 12 million units on the road, saving more than 3 billion litres of fuel."
Nexteer Automotive is well positioned to help automakers reduce the cost of introducing fuel-saving technologies. Its commitment to innovation across the complete range of EPS applications and its modular approach to systems architectures will give the company an advantage over larger, less focused competitors. And, unlike other EPS suppliers, Nexteer Automotive electronics and software development is entirely in-house, which represents a major competitive advantage. Nexteer Automotive is the only steering supplier with complete integration of its systems, providing optimal control of the overall system. This vertical integration of the system provides a real benefit to Nexteer Automotive's customers in terms of responsiveness and ability to fulfill their needs.
It also allows the application of additional safety and comfort features such as Lane Keeping, Park Assist or Pull Compensation.
Nexteer offers the broadest range of mechanical concepts, ranging from column mounted units to premium rack and pinion systems capable of rack loads of 15kN or more.
"Our engineers are entirely focused on developing the best steering systems, without any distractions," said Bresson. "We invest 8 percent of our income in R&D and are completely committed to working with our customers worldwide to help them increase fuel economy, improve dynamics, feel and refinement and meet new technology challenges such as electric and hybrid vehicles to which our EPS architectures' low noise is ideally suited."
Nexteer Automotive produces its EPS systems at highly automated facilities in best- cost locations. In Europe, 100 percent of its production comes from best-cost countries. The company has invested more than $40m in its Polish facilities in recent years - and a similar sum in Mexico. New state-of-the-art lines have recently been introduced at its facility in Tychy, Poland to support the Fiat 500 and Citroën C3.
"By fourth quarter of 2009 we had turned 2007's loss into a profit and positive cash flow," says Bresson. "In the past three years, we've won contracts worth $2 billion in lifetime revenue. Today we have a profitable global business with exceptional technologies and some very exciting opportunities ahead of us."
About Nexteer Automotive
Nexteer Automotive is a multi-billion dollar global steering and driveline business solely dedicated to electric and hydraulic steering systems, steering columns and driveline products for original equipment manufacturers. Its 6,200 employees serve more than 60 customers in every major region of the world with 15 manufacturing sites, six engineering and 14 customer service centers strategically located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive's customers include GM, Fiat, Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, and PSA Peugeot Citroen, as well as automakers in India, China and South America. www.nexteer.com.
Press enquiries
Tristan Honeywill
Market Engineering
Tel: +44 (0) 1295 277050
Mob: +44 7870 211887
tristan.honeywill@m-eng.com
Commercial enquiries
Sandrine Fallet
Nexteer Automotive
Tel: +33 6 86 07 72 01
sandrine.fallet@nexteer.com
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