Volkswagen begins local production of dual clutch transmissions in China
Volkswagen AG started building its dual clutch transmission (DSG) Tuesday in its plant in the northeast China city of Dalian. The locally produced transmissions will be installed in its vehicles assembled in China.
In the first phase, the Dalian plant will produce 300,000 units of the 7-speed DSG transmission per year, and the capacity will then gradually be expanded to a maximum of 600,000 units, Volkswagen said in a statement.
The Dalian facility is Volkswagen's second plant worldwide to build DSG transmissions. Its first DSG plant is in Kassel, Germany.
In 2007, Volkswagen Group China set itself the goal of achieving a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions for the locally-produced vehicle fleet by 2010.
To achieve the goal, Volkswagen launched its efficient TSI engines in China in 2007, and has gradually begun domestic component production for the engines at its sites in the country.
"The start of DSG production in China is another important step for Volkswagen Group China," said Winfried Vahland, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, in a statement. "We can progress towards our goal of further extending our market share while at the same time achieving a greater reduction in the fuel consumption and emissions of our vehicles by fostering progressive powertrain technologies," he added.
