Nexteer Automotive Group Stock

Nexteer Automotive Group Limited, designs, develops, manufactures and distributes steering and driveline systems (DL) and components, primarily for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company operates as a subsidiary of Pacific Century Motors.

Products

A steering system consists of the components required to provide lateral directional control of the vehicle. The company’s steering system product lines include electric power steering (EPS) and hydraulic power steering (HPS), as well as steering columns and intermediate shafts (CIS).

A DL consists of the components required to transfer power from the transmission to the driven wheels. The company’s DL products include front-wheel drive halfshafts, intermediate drive shafts and rear-wheel drive halfshafts, as well as propeller shaft constant velocity (CV) joints

EPS

EPS uses an electric motor to assist driver steering. The company’s hardware and software are developed concurrently and work together to connect the driver with the road– accounting for driving dynamics and the operating environment. This ‘connection to the road’ provides the driver an experience consistent with the vehicle’s brand (such as luxury, sport, etc.), while also giving safety cues regarding the road surface the driver is traveling on (icy, gravel, etc.).

HPS

In North America, the company produces two premium hydraulic based products: Magnetic Torque Overlay (MTO) and Smart Flow pump. These products bring driver assistance functionality with reduced power consumption benefits. The MTO steering gear actuator targets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, semitrailer trucks and buses. The Smart Flow pump reduces parasitic loss on the engine to improve operating efficiency. MTO and Smart Flow pump are available exclusively on General Motors Company and Subsidiaries (GM) three-quarter ton trucks – the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Silverado. The company also introduced an MTO cartridge valve that enables integration with OEMs’ gear configurations.

Steering CIS

The company designs these products for small cars, sport utility vehicle (SUVs) and trucks. OEM customers that use Nexteer steering CIS include: GM in full-size SUVs, vans, mid-size trucks and cars (the Cadillac CT4, CT5, XTS and Chevrolet Impala, Camaro, Corvette); Ford on full-size trucks (F150 and Super Duty), full-size SUVs (Lincoln Navigator), vans, mid-size trucks (Ranger), mid-size SUV (Explorer); Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V (FCA) on Ram full-size trucks, Promaster City, the Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, as well as the Chrysler Pacifica; plus Toyota on full-size trucks (Tundra) and full-size SUVs (Sequoia).

DL

The company’s halfshafts are designed for various vehicles and are custom engineered to meet specific vehicle requirements, transmitting torque from the engine to roadwheels. Its systems enhance vehicle handling and eliminate driveline disturbances on front-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles. The company’s halfshafts enhance a driver’s comfort and control. OEM customers that use the company’s halfshafts include: FCA, GM, Groupe PSA, RNM, Volkswagen Group and various China and India domestic OEMs

Strategy

The key elements of the company's strategy are to expand and diversify revenue base, strengthen technology leadership, capitalise on EPS as enabler for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), pursue select acquisitions and alliance, and target China and emerging markets.

Research and Development

The company incurs significant costs and efforts on research and development activities, which include costs to develop customer-specific applications, prototypes and testing. As of December 31, 2019, US$622.0 million of development costs had been capitalised within intangible assets.

Intellectual Property

In 2019, 19 percent of pending patent applications were focused on ADAS Levels 3, 4 and 5, while 21 percent of all new patents granted to the company in 2019 were related to ADAS Level 3 through 5 technologies. ADAS Level 3-plus patents also accounted for 7.6 percent of the company’s total granted patent portfolio.

History

Nexteer Automotive Group Limited was founded in 1906.