GKN Driveline, the market leaderin India, is to expand its presence by building a new factory for the manufacture of sideshafts, including a state-of-the-art test center, nearChennai. GKN Driveline will invest nearly $27.9 million (14 million poundsSterling) in the new plant that will go into production at the beginning ofnext year -- it will have a capacity of 600,000 vehicle sets. The new facility will expand GKN Driveline's capability in SouthernIndia and position the company to meet the rapid growth of the Indian carmarket. GKN Driveline currently employs 450 people in three factories inIndia: Faridabad and Dharuhera, near Delhi in the north, and Gummidipoondi,near Chennai, in the south. GKN Driveline is a global enterprise with 21,000 people working at morethan 40 locations in over 30 countries. Recognized as the automotiveindustry's leader in the design and production of driveline components, GKNDriveline provides driveshafts for the smallest front-wheel-drive vehiclesup to the most sophisticated four-wheel-drive models.GKN Driveline's firstfacility in India was established in 1986 at Faridabad in Haryana. GKN Driveline in India GKN Driveline's roots in the Indian automotive market go back to the1980s, forging strong partnerships based on supply reliability, productintegrity and quality consistency. Today, GKN Driveline shares its uniqueapplication capability with customers to develop dedicated drivelinesolutions that meet the challenge of improved environmental performance,greater efficiency, lighter weight and enhanced reliability.