Volkswagen AG unveiled a new transmission plant in the coastal city of Tianjin in North China in early November as part of its plan to make highly efficient cars for the world's largest auto market.
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The 2.2 billion yuan ($359 million) plant in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area is designed to produce 450,000 double-clutch DQ380 gearboxes in the initial period, said the company.
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Production capacity will be scaled up to 1.2 million units by 2016. The plant will eventually also produce the DQ500 gearbox, it said.
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It added the DQ380 gearbox is especially designed and developed for the Chinese market and will be equipped on some models produced by Volkswagen's joint ventures Shanghai Volkswagen, FAW-Volkswagen and the premium Audi marque.
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"The new generation of DSG gearboxes will make Volkswagen the most sustainable automaker in China by 2018," said Jochem Heizmann, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China at the plant's opening ceremony.
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He explained the gearbox, combined with the third-generation of the EA888 engine, can reduce gasoline consumption by half a liter per 100 km, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 12 grams per km compared with the previous generation.Â
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Volkswagen AG unveiled a new transmission plant in the coastal city of Tianjin in North China in early November as part of its plan to make highly efficient cars for the world's largest auto market.
