ZF transmissions opens up new plant in the US
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, the automotive parts supplier, has opened its first plant for automatic passenger car transmissions in South Carolina, US. ZF Transmissions Gray Court (ZFTG) is the manufacturing site of the 8-speed automatic transmission (8HP), which is already successful in the market, as well as the world's first 9-speed automatic transmission (9HP).
ZF will manufacture 1.2 million transmissions annually, including 400,000 units of eight -speed and 800,000 units of nine-speed automatic transmissions, at the US site
The German driveline and chassis technology manufacturer, which supplies Chrylser and several other automakers, will manufacture 1.2 million transmissions annually, including 400,000 units of eight -speed and 800,000 units of nine-speed automatic transmissions, at the US site. Previously, the 8HP was only manufactured in Saarbrucken, Germany, and ZFTG will expand on the existing capacities of the German 8HP plant.
The new 9-speed transmission is specially designed for passenger cars with front-transverse engines. Compared to the standard 6-speed automatic transmission, it cuts fuel consumption by up to 16 percent. Land Rover has already confirmed that the Evoque will use this gearbox in the future. "Since around three quarters of all passenger cars worldwide are fitted with this drive configuration, I see great potential for our new product," said Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO, ZF.
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