Chrysler will manufacture the ZF automatic transmission system

The North American company reported that will invest 300 million dollars in its Plant 1 and in the Kokomo (Indiana) factory; this investment will focus on installing special tools and equipment designed specifically for producing the new ZF 8-speed automatic transmission system, whose license belongs to the German consortium Group ZF.

In this way Chrysler maintains the guidelines of its restructuring plan and also allows 1,200 workers to continue with their regular activities.

Production of the new transmission system is expected to begin in 2013; in the meantime, the American manufacturer will import the automatic gearbox from Germany, although it has not reported when imports will begin.

Chrysler has not yet confirmed which models will be equipped with the new transmission system, but indicates that its incorporation into the structure of the cars would contribute to a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption by 2014.

Finally, the head of manufacturing at Chrysler stated that in-house production of the new ZF gearbox will renew its product line in the future.

Source | Automotive News