Delphi Corp. to spin-off powertrain operations

Delphi was once a division of General Motors Corp. PHOTO:Delphi

The British company with U.S. operations in suburban Detroit says Delphi shareholders will get stock in both companies in the tax-free deal.

Delphi, the former parts arm of General Motors, has been shedding conventional automotive businesses ever since it was spun off as a separate company by GM in 1999. The rest of the company will now focus on central computing platforms and advanced safety and autonomous driving systems, Delphi said in a statement.

The new company will design and make components that enhance efficiency and vehicle performance, selling the parts to automakers. The powertrain unit has about 20,000 employees worldwide with 5,000 engineers. It had revenue of $4.5 billion last year, according to Delphi, which expects the spinoff to be completed by March of 2018.

Liam Butterworth, who is now president of Powertrain Systems, will be the new company’s chief executive.

The split gives the companies “flexibility to pursue accelerated investments in advanced technologies that solve our customers’ most complex challenges,” Delphi CEO Kevin Clark said in a statement.

Also Wednesday, Delphi Automotive PLC reported first-quarter net income of $335 million.