Dongfeng Nissan said 50% cars to come with CVTs

Shanghai, July 22 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Motor Co, a joint venture between Nissan and its Chinese partner Dongfeng Motor, said around 51.5% of its cars will be equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) by 2012.

The company said 30.9% of its cars will be equipped with a CVT by the end of this year. Furthermore, Nissan's CVT will start to be produced at JATCO's transmission plant in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou as of next year. Initial capacity is 150,000 units

CVT operates on an ingenious pulley system that allows an infinite variability between highest and lowest gears with no discrete steps or shifts, thus eliminating damage from shift changing and transmission torque and improving vehicle fuel efficiency.

The joint venture automaker announced on May an ambitious 5-year business plan to launch 15 new vehicle models and lift sales volume to 1 million units and revenue 10 billion yuan (US$1.47 billion) by that of 2012.