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Geely Signs Production License with Antonov for Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
16 January 2007
Antonov plc has signed a Production License Agreement with Zhejiang Geely Automobile Gearbox Co, the transmission manufacturing subsidiary of Geely Automotive. This follows the announcement on 27 November 2006 that Geely and Antonov had signed Heads of Agreement for the license, which is for the production of the Company’s TX6 six-speed automatic transmission. (Earlier post.)
Under the license, Geely will have the non-exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and sell transmissions covered by the Antonov 6 speed automatic patents and will also receive design support from Antonov. Geely has already taken two models of conventional automatic transmission to production and the Antonov TX6 will be an addition to this model line-up. The transmission will also be available to other vehicle makers worldwide.
Antonov will receive both License Fees totaling €900,000 (US$1.2 million) payable over the next nine months and then a production royalty on each transmission produced.
Antonov created this six-speed automatic in 2003. The transmission features a combination of planetary gears and parallel transfers of power—the engine’s output is transferred to two parallel three-speed modules. Each of these can independently accept power and transfer it to the differential. The transmission is very flexible, and can produce any overall ratio and any steps between any of the speeds.
Geely is one of China’s leading automotive companies and produces around 200,000 cars per year. Both companies will be working together to incorporate the TX6 into a number of models with production commencing in 2008.
January 16, 2007 in China, Transmissions | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
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Comments
I would like to see this transmission in operation. The setup is a bit complex, and I wonder how reliable will Geely's run.
_Who will pull consumer auto intro to US off first, India or PRC?
Posted by: allen_XL_Z | Jan 16, 2007 9:14:31 AM
Allen -
I rather suspect the first dual-clutch automatic transmission you'll see will be in a VW diesel in or after 2008.
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | Jan 16, 2007 5:02:30 PM
Rafael:
Audi sells A3 model with DSG transmission in US/Canada from MY2006.
Posted by: Andrey | Jan 16, 2007 11:41:59 PM
This isn't a dual clutch transmission.
It can powershift from ANY gear to ANY other.
The dual clutc transmission gear changes are limited to gearchanges {1,3,5}<->{2,4,6} and need to preselect the next ratio. If the wrong next ratio is preselected then you have to wait. With the Antonov system all 5 non-selected ratios are available all the time.
Being drive-by-wire, it is neither really manual nor automatic. Software can make it either.
Like dual clutch transmissions it can powershift so it doesn't have torque interruption on acceleration, and it can friction launch, so no torque convertor losses are necessary.
Posted by: Crystalclear | Jan 19, 2007 2:08:02 AM
Antonov has the best automatic six-speed!
Small, light, low cost, fuel efficient, supurb performanse, beter than DSG. Hear it, see it and read about it!!!
See video: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Mnnvzfgt0
Not any interuption between the gears
More to see about this technology
http://www.antonov-clubsite.nl/000000962f000d411/00000099fb002b61b/index.html
Company home page:
http://www.antonovat.com/example_applications/content.asp?s=32
Discus about the oportunities of this supurb six-speed automatic transmission technology and dual speed supercharger technology:
http://www.antonovforum.com
Posted by: Warren2 | Jul 30, 2008 12:21:05 PM
