Automated Manual Transmission For Chinese Trucks

        Knorr-Bremse and China-based truck manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Group Corporation Ltd. (Dongfeng) will develop automated manual transmissions for Dongfeng’s new generation of heavy-duty trucks via their joint venture in China Knorr-Bremse DETC Commercial Vehicle Braking Technology.
“In Europe, automated manual transmissions have become widely established. They boost active safety by easing the load on the driver, cut fuel consumption by applying an optimized gear shift strategy and reduce clutch wear,” said Peter Laier, member of the executive board of Knorr-Bremse responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Systems division. “In our joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group we are optimizing our transmission management system to meet the specific requirements of the Chinese market. This puts us in an excellent position to help automated manual transmissions finally achieve a breakthrough in China.”
The transmission management system developed by Knorr-Bremse consists of an electropneumatic gear control unit and clutch actuator, sensors that gather the necessary status data, and an electronic control unit that contributes the gear shift strategy via a specific software. The complete system is to be produced at the joint venture’s own facility in Shiyan, China.
The joint venture between Knorr-Bremse and Dongfeng was founded in 2015 and was initially focused on manufacturing mechanical components such as brake valves and ABS systems; the range of products manufactured in China is though steadily growing to include components for air management and brake control, as well as transmission systems.