Interesting Article in local paper
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From: LA
Interesting Article in local paper
Ford, GM combine for transmissions: They created the six speed, front-wheel-drive automatic transmissions together, a development very unique. It will be used starting in the 2007 model year. Having extra gears should allow the engine to run in its most efficient sweet spot more of the time cutting fuel consumption. Some quotes from the article I hope it will work in trucks once the rear wheel drive version in made.
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Full text as follows:
GM, Ford to Spend $720 Million on New Transmission System
By Sharon Silke Carty
Dow Jones Newswires
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp.(NYSE:GM) (GM) and Ford Motor Co.(NYSE:F) (F) will invest $720 million in three plants to manufacture a six-speed automatic transmission.
The crosstown rivals had already announced the pact in late 2002, but this is the first indication of the magnitude of their cooperation.
Developing transmissions can be a costly proposition, and the domestic auto makers have been losing market share to rivals using more highly developed transmissions. While Ford and GM primarily use four-speed automatic transmissions, competitors have been successfully selling five-speed transmissions for some time.
Tom Stephens, GM's vice president of powertrains, said developing a six-speed automatic transmission jointly will save the two companies millions of dollars. By the time the transmissions make it to market in 2008, the total cost of the investments made by the two companies will total over $1 billion.
The auto makers hope to sell one million automatic six speeds by 2008.
"We believe six speeds are the future," said Dave Sczupak, Ford's vice president of powertrains. The new transmissions will give cars more power, smoother transmissions and will improve fuel economy by about 4%.
The transmission will be built separately at GM's Warren, Mich., transmission plant and Ford's Sterling Heights, Mich., and Sharonville, Ohio, transmission plants. Ford is investing $370 million and GM is investing $350 million.
The move should help both companies retain 1,100 jobs - many of them in Michigan.
Under the original agreement, only the base transmission design will be common.
"Each company will have power trains that are distinct in feel and performance since the transmissions will be mated to different engines," said a press release issued by the companies when the deal was first inked. "And the respective vehicle programs will have unique performance dynamics and collaboration."
GM, Ford to Spend $720 Million on New Transmission System
By Sharon Silke Carty
Dow Jones Newswires
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp.(NYSE:GM) (GM) and Ford Motor Co.(NYSE:F) (F) will invest $720 million in three plants to manufacture a six-speed automatic transmission.
The crosstown rivals had already announced the pact in late 2002, but this is the first indication of the magnitude of their cooperation.
Developing transmissions can be a costly proposition, and the domestic auto makers have been losing market share to rivals using more highly developed transmissions. While Ford and GM primarily use four-speed automatic transmissions, competitors have been successfully selling five-speed transmissions for some time.
Tom Stephens, GM's vice president of powertrains, said developing a six-speed automatic transmission jointly will save the two companies millions of dollars. By the time the transmissions make it to market in 2008, the total cost of the investments made by the two companies will total over $1 billion.
The auto makers hope to sell one million automatic six speeds by 2008.
"We believe six speeds are the future," said Dave Sczupak, Ford's vice president of powertrains. The new transmissions will give cars more power, smoother transmissions and will improve fuel economy by about 4%.
The transmission will be built separately at GM's Warren, Mich., transmission plant and Ford's Sterling Heights, Mich., and Sharonville, Ohio, transmission plants. Ford is investing $370 million and GM is investing $350 million.
The move should help both companies retain 1,100 jobs - many of them in Michigan.
Under the original agreement, only the base transmission design will be common.
"Each company will have power trains that are distinct in feel and performance since the transmissions will be mated to different engines," said a press release issued by the companies when the deal was first inked. "And the respective vehicle programs will have unique performance dynamics and collaboration."
