Chinese transmission

Antonov, the UK-based vehicle-transmission specialist, has laid the foundations for operations in China.

The company recently secured €15m (£13.6m) of backing from Sichuan Jianghan Industrial Group to explore the possibility of producing in China its proprietary TX-6 automatic transmission, an innovation that eliminates traditional torque converters for a more efficient planetary gearbox.

Antonov and Jianghan also agreed to search for additional partners that can provide better market access, mass production and transmission technology.

Antonov’s current trading activities in China are driven through its office in Chong Qing, where the company already has a prototype vehicle (1.6-litre VW Golf) to demonstrate its six-speed transmission technology to potential partners and prospective automotive clients.

Six-speed automatic transmissions are much desired by Chinese motorists, but the technology currently has to be imported by domestic carmakers.