The Hindu Business Line : Ashok Leyland broadens scope of pact with ZF

ASHOK Leyland Ltd has signed a collaboration agreement with ZF of Germany, world leader in transmission, for local manufacture of ZF's 9-speed synchromesh gearbox.

"Leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in Europe, Japan and Asia, currently use ZF's 9-speed transmissions with range change features," says a press release from the company.

The agreement also provides for making available to Ashok Leyland the manufacturing technology and process improvements for ZF's proposed successor to the gearbox. Ashok Leyland has also tied up with Hino of Japan for the manufacture of advanced J-series engines for heavier trucks.

The ZF gearbox that the recent collaboration agreement speaks about would make the transmission compatible with the powerful (260 hp) J engine.

"With this agreement we have secured our transmission technology to meet higher torque requirements of the future,'' commented Mr R. Seshasayee, Managing Director.

He told Business Line that in the current year, Ashok Leyland would import some gearboxes of this range from ZF and fit them onto the `new generation vehicles' that the company plans to produce from this year.

Producing the 9-speed gearboxes will start next year. However, investments on this will be done in a phased manner over a period of three years. He said that the company was yet to firm up both the investment and volume numbers.

Ashok Leyland's association with ZF dates back to 1981 when it signed the first technical collaboration agreement with the German gearbox maker. Today, more than 90 per cent of the vehicles produced by it are fitted with ZF gearboxes.

More Stories on : Alliances & Joint Ventures | Automobile Components

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