Although for nearly a century continued to fight, the two largest U.S. automakers, Ford and General Motors was able to get along. Two brand is now known is collaborating to create a 9-speed transmission and a 10-speed.
New York Times report that quoted Car Advice says that Ford Motor Company and General Motors are now aligned to develop a high-ratio transmission for their use in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
Sources at both companies said that the giant 9-speed transmission will be applied on vehicles with front wheel drive system or a front-wheel-drive.
While the 10-speed transmission will be used on vehicles with rear wheel drive system or a rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel drive.
This rare collaboration can be realized as both conscious cooperation, development costs can be reduced. In addition, they can also be a strategy to penetrate the European market in the next decade require more environmentally friendly cars.
Industry analysts predict a joint investment from both companies will likely reach U.S. $ 1 billion, with estimates of more than 500,000 transmissions will be produced each year.
Even for the affairs of the two competing car sales. Collaboration to examine the gearbox is not the first time they did.
Ten years ago, they also announced an agreement to jointly develop and produce a 6-speed gearbox for front-wheel drive vehicles.
6F transmission dubbed by Ford and GM 6T70 by its production in 2006, and has since been applied to more than eight million vehicles worldwide with about 30 names of different vehicles.
Chance, 9-speed transmission and 10-speed collaboration between GM and Ford will reach the market in 2015.
