GM Baltimore Operations worker Johnny Johnson, 56, working on the final assembly of A1000 Heavy Duty transmissions in White Marsh, Md., in this 2011 file photo(Photo: Jack Gruber USAT)
Story Highlights
- Ford and General Motors are jointing trying to develop nine- and 10-speed transmissions
- It's the third time they've worked together on tranmissions
- But it's still unusual given that they have among the most bitter rivalries in the auto business
The biggest two of Detroit Big 3 automakers, General Motors and Ford Motor, are joining in an rare collaboration to develop advanced automatic transmissions, they disclosed Monday.
The normally two bitter rivals have signed an agreement to jointly develop a new generation of transmissions that will have nine and 10 speeds, a leap from today's tranmissions which usually don't have more than eight, and usually more like six.
Though working together may sound unusual, GM and Ford say latest collaboration marks the third time in the past decade that they have hooked up on transmissions. Because of their past work, they say more than 8 million six-speed transmissions are on the road.
The two companies didn't make clear why they felt they need to work together, but they could be feeling the heat from other makers that are rushing their own transmission development. Detroit's other big one, Chrysler, has announced plans for nine-speed transmissions. In fact, they have already started announcing models that will get them, like a new model, the Jeep Cherokee. The off-road model replaces the small Jeep Liberty. Chrysler is controlled by Italy's Fiat, which may be seen as posing a technology challenge to its two bigger established competitors.
In their separate announcements, Ford and GM said the new transmissions will be built for both front- and rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Adding more speeds to transmissions allows engines to optimize their operation and run at lower speeds, which saves gas. It's the same idea as on bicycles, where lightweight 10-speeds -- or more -- are considered better for more speed and conserving riders' strength that old three-speed models.
The automakers' statements said that teams for GM and Ford have already begun their initial work.
"We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel economy improvements into both company's future product portfolios," said Jim Lanzon, GM vice president of global transmission engineering.
The research will go beyond just the engineering work to figure the best way to make a nine- or 10-speed transmission. Ford's chief transmission engineer, Craig Renneker, says the goal is to come up with common parts, which the two companies would then customize with their own software.
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