GM Daewoo To Double 6-Speed Transmission Output By 2010

[paddyk]

BORYEONG, South Korea (Dow Jones)--GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Corp. (GM), Wednesday said it will double its annual output of six-speed automatic transmissions by 2010.

"We will have the ability to increase production of six-speed automatic transmissions to 600,000 units per year by 2010," said GM Daewoo Chief Executive Michael A. Grimaldi.

The company's Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission will be featured in the Lacetti, a new sub mid-size sedan, which will go on sale in the second half of 2008.

GM Daewoo has a new transmission facility, which began operations in November 2007, with an annual output capacity of 300,000 six-speed automatic transmissions and 250,000 four-speed transmissions, the company said in a statement.

The carmaker has invested $500 million over the past four years to develop its six-speed transmission and expand existing facilities, located in Boryeong, 195 kilometers southwest of Seoul.

On Jan. 24, GM Daewoo launched the Tosca Premium 6, its first domestic model with a six-speed transmission. The upgraded version of the mid-size Tosca sedan with a 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter engine sells between KRW17.26 million ($18,257) and KRW26.62 million.

"The Tosca Premium 6 featuring our new transmissions will reach European markets by the end of February," Grimaldi said, adding GM Daewoo is also developing a compact version of the six-speed transmission for sub mid-size and small cars.

In 2007, GM Daewoo exported 419,000 vehicles to Europe, up 48% from 282,874 units a year earlier.

This year, the GM Korean unit aims to sell 2 million vehicles - 1.86 million in exports (including complete knockdown units) and 140,000 units domestically - up from 1.89 million units it sold last year.

[JVal14]

Good. Crank them out as fast as you can. It's my relatively uninformed opinion that if GM put DI and 6-spd. trannies in everyone of it's cars, it would be half way to solving it's CAFE problem, for relatively little investment. I hope this trend sweeps the globe.

[paddyk]

here's one:

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...8_FORTUNE5.htm

[NoNameDenton]

Better hurry up and start work on the 7 and 8 speed autos as well (for Caddy), because even Ford is even working on them for their luxury brands (Lincoln and Volvo)

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by paddyk

The company's Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission will be featured in the Lacetti, a new sub mid-size sedan, which will go on sale in the second half of 2008.

This is the most telling part right here...glad to see that we will have a "Lacetti" replacement (whatever they decide to call it) soon.

I hope we see something at Geneva.

[gardnet1]

Hey, how bout being the first subcompact with a six spd automatic by putting it in the Aveo? Then it would get better fuel mileage too.

[mang01]

I had to go looking for it but found it here http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...56&docid=42881 . I wondered if it improved only top end economy (i.e. a second overdrive) or the lower end acceleration where the Oz media claims the Epica (Tosca) was quite sluggish in either engine size (5speed auto on 2.5, 5speed manual on 2.0 here). The quoted article claims both measures are improved so that's good because Epica sales are embarassingly slow here so maybe if they promote the revised model (here in time for the Melbourne Motor show? But could get lost in the Orion/GMC Denali fuss..) they will get a second chance. Holden know from past experience that providing decent grunt can be a lifeline.
Also a new Viva a.k.a. Lacetti can't get here soon enough for Holden dealers. And there should be a revised Barina soon to match the Daewoo's and Aveo's recent facelifts? Hope Melbourne will have at least the "new" Epicas and Barinas.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by gardnet1

Hey, how bout being the first subcompact with a six spd automatic by putting it in the Aveo? Then it would get better fuel mileage too.

Isn't the 6 speed transmission too heavy for a small car like the Aveo

[paul8488]

Very cool! I like that GM sees the value in making GMDAT vehicles competitive, and isn't just pumping out the same tired old cars without any updates. They're still not as competitive as they need to be, but things like this (6-speed transmissions) certainly help.

[member12]

Originally Posted by gardnet1

Hey, how bout being the first subcompact with a six spd automatic by putting it in the Aveo? Then it would get better fuel mileage too.

would that work?

A big heavy transmission like that in a tiny car? I'd think the manual would be the best choice for a city car like that, right?

I'm all for putting good autos in the daewoo products. The Aveo's auto seems to sap everything out of that car.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by member12

would that work?

A big heavy transmission like that in a tiny car? I'd think the manual would be the best choice for a city car like that, right?

I'm all for putting good autos in the daewoo products. The Aveo's auto seems to sap everything out of that car.

If you take an exisiting larger car 6-speed and stick it in an Aveo the weight could very well outweigh (no pun intended) any fuel-economy benefits... but if it's a small 6-speed designed for a small car it isn't necessarily much heavier / larger than a 4-speed unit.

[MelvinJ]

I didn't see it mentioned in the article, but this is the 6-speed that will be used in the 2.4L Malibu. They will be imported from GMDAT.