The car giant started by marrying the daughter of the king

Compared with the various reactions of vehicle manufacturers to the launch of Chitu 77, there is a group of companies that are many times more nervous than Porsche, Ferrari, and BMW.

"Moriyama, give me a definite answer."

"6AT automatic transmission, how long will your R&D department have to wait to successfully develop it?"

As the president of Aisin, Taiji Tanaka has been under a lot of pressure these days.

When Chitu 77 was launched, Jiang Hui personally said that in the future the world's most advanced 6AT automatic transmission would be installed on the subsequent upgraded version of Chitu 77.

As the owner of the world's first company to launch a 5AT automatic transmission and one that has maintained an absolute advantage in the field of 5AT automatic transmissions until now, many people will definitely take Jiang Hui's words seriously.

Not to mention companies like Aisin, which aspires to become a global leader in the transmission industry.

They are very worried that Nanshan Transmission will be able to develop the 6AT automatic transmission very soon.

By the time two consecutive generations of products become the most advanced in the world, the development of Nanshan Transmission will be impossible for any company to suppress.

The key is that this will give everyone a subconscious impression that Nanshan gearbox's technical level is the most advanced in the industry.

Once everyone has this impression, many things will become difficult to handle.

So Taiji Tanaka called the head of R&D, Moriyama Shuuji, to his office.

He needed to hear the accurate response from the other party himself, otherwise he would not be able to feel at ease.

If Nanshan Transmission launches the 6AT automatic transmission in the future and Aisin fails to produce the same product after several years, the situation will be completely out of control.

Even with Toyota as its backer, Aisin will not fall.

But the dream of becoming the world's largest gearbox company is about to be completely shattered.

This is a scene that Taiji Tanaka absolutely does not want to see.

"President, adding one gear requires additional clutch, brake and planetary gear set, but the size of the gearbox housing cannot usually be increased significantly, so the layout needs to be optimized within the limited space."

“This requires a more sophisticated arrangement of gear sets and clutches. We are considering using compound planetary gears or nested designs, but this will increase the computational complexity.”

“In addition, the oil passages and hydraulic valve body pipelines are denser, which can easily cause interference or uneven oil pressure. We are trying to solve these problems.”

"Then the 6AT has more shift combinations than the 5AT, and the control software needs to handle more shift mapping."

"For example, downshifts from 6 to 3 and 5 to 2 require higher algorithms and response speeds for the TCU."

"In this case, we need to optimize the overlapping shifts between more gears to avoid power interruption or stalling."

Moriyama Shuuji prepared to explain the situation to the president.

However, Taiji Tanaka called him over today, obviously not to hear how difficult the design of a 6AT automatic transmission is.

"These are all things that your R&D department needs to consider. I just want to know when the 6AT can be developed."

After saying this, Taiji Tanaka kept his eyes on the other person, wanting to hear the answer he wanted as soon as possible.

"The mechanical loss and thermal management of the 6AT automatic transmission is a huge challenge."

“More gear sets and clutches lead to increased friction losses, and the bearing arrangement and gear meshing angle need to be optimized to reduce resistance.”

"Under high load conditions, the cooling requirements of the additional clutches may require a larger oil pump or improved cooling circuits."

“These all need to go through a variety of tests before we can finally improve them into products that meet our needs.”

"The parts cost and R&D expenses of 6AT are significantly higher than those of 5AT, but market competition requires that prices cannot rise significantly, and costs need to be reduced through large-scale production or modular design."

"These are all things that our R&D department needs to consider, rather than simply developing a 6AT."

"If we don't consider the size, weight and cost, our 6AT automatic transmission will be designed and finalized next year and ready for mass production the year after."

Moriyama Shuma changed the concept and continued to explain his difficulties.

After all, in his opinion, what he said were objective facts.

It would be meaningless to discuss the development of 6AT automatic transmission without considering these situations.

"If we want to develop a 6AT automatic transmission that meets market demand, how long do we have to wait?"

"Three years? Or five years?"

Without even considering anything else, mass production will have to wait until the year after next.

This needs to be considered carefully, it will definitely not happen so quickly.

Originally, Taiji Tanaka did not expect the R&D department to develop the 6AT automatic transmission so quickly.

It took decades for the entire global automotive industry to move from the 4AT automatic transmission era to the 5AT era.

Many car models are still equipped with 4AT automatic transmission.

Then according to the normal pace of development, it would be more appropriate for the new generation of 6AT automatic transmission to be mass-produced and put on the market at least ten years later.

However, the BMW Group did not play by the rules and started to roll up early.

Their colleagues can only follow suit.

Otherwise, other manufacturers have already used 6AT automatic transmissions, and Keaixin doesn’t even have the same product.

Then it's totally impossible to sell.

“Conservative estimates suggest it will take at least five years to complete the development.”

"Even if there is some reference material, this period cannot be shorter than three years."

Moriyama Shuuji was silent for a moment, and finally a number popped out.

He was forced into no choice.

In fact, within Aisin, the design work of the 6AT automatic transmission has just begun not long ago.

It is obviously too early to say when the design can be completed when the overall design plan has not been finalized.

The key point is that the company had not thought about developing the 6AT automatic transmission so quickly before.

Now everything has changed and the entire plan needs to be reorganized.

"What about Nanshan Transmission?"

"When do you think the other party can come up with a 6AT automatic transmission?"

Be it three years or five years.

Whether this time is long or short actually depends mainly on the situation of Nanshan Transmission in the industry.

If the other party also needs this much time to get it done, then this time is obviously acceptable.

On the other hand, if the other party develops 6AT this year, then this time is obviously unacceptable.

"We are currently lacking some more specific intelligence."

"However, based on the current situation, the other party will probably be able to launch a 6AT automatic transmission around the year after next."

Moriyama Shuu said something that made Tanaka Taiji feel a little uncomfortable.

This means that Aisin will not be able to achieve technological leadership in the next ten years.

Although Japanese companies do not use technological leadership as their selling point, when their technological level is close to the leading level, they are able to provide customers with products with relatively good quality and acceptable cost levels.

However, this is based on the premise that the most technologically advanced companies are European and American companies, not Chinese companies.

Otherwise, the original survival status of Japanese enterprises would no longer exist.

"You call the relevant personnel to discuss and adjust the development plan of the 6AT automatic transmission according to the same schedule as Nanshan Transmission."

"In the end, even if we are a little slower than the other side, it won't be more than a year."

This is the state of the market, and Taiji Tanaka can only exert pressure layer by layer.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sit steadily.

Feeling very aggrieved, Moriyama Shuma felt that he had done nothing wrong, but the situation was developing in the direction he least wanted to see. Damn Nanshan Transmission, damn BMW Group, damn Jiang Hui.

Can't you wait until the 6AT automatic transmission goes into mass production before announcing this news?
Why do we have to brag about it years in advance? It makes everyone feel so stressed.

At least give yourself a few years to relax.

While Moriyama was complaining about Nanshan Transmission helplessly, ZF was also analyzing Jiang Hui's speech.

We want to judge from the contents of these speeches how far Nanshan Transmission's 6AT automatic transmission project has progressed.

"Stephen, according to the development law of the automobile industry, after a product is launched, a mid-term facelift model will often be launched in the third year."

"Generally speaking, mid-term facelift models will not make major changes to the powertrain."

"But the situation with Chitu 77 is obviously a little different this time."

"I think the other party should be preparing to launch a modified Chitu 6 equipped with a 77AT automatic transmission next year."

"Combined with the launch time of the other party's 5AT automatic transmission, there is a gap of about five or six years between it and the mass production of 6AT."

"This cycle is barely enough to develop a completely new gearbox."

As the R&D director of ZF, Mikas explained to President Stephen today the development of 6AT automatic transmissions in the industry and the advancement status within ZF.

As a leader in the transmission industry, ZF's goal has always been to become the world's number one transmission giant.

Over the past hundred years, this goal has been achieved most of the time.

That is to say, ZF fell behind only after Nanshan Transmission was the first to develop the 5AT automatic transmission.

But soon, ZF also launched its own 5AT automatic transmission.

It also accelerated the development of the 6AT automatic transmission.

But judging from the current situation, Nanshan Transmission is also developing rapidly.

"If they launch the 6AT the year after next, wouldn't that mean they will be about a year ahead of us?"

Stephen looked at Mikas a little depressed.

He found this result a little hard to accept.

When will a transmission company from China be able to surpass ZF in technology?

The key is that he knows that the other party has not only made huge breakthroughs in the field of passenger car gearboxes, but has also launched several new products in the Chinese market in terms of gearboxes used in heavy trucks.

The market share is not low at all.

Although the scale of the Chinese market is still small, the threat is huge.

"From the current situation, our progress is indeed slower than theirs."

"We started the project two years late, and the Chinese worked day and night, including on weekends."

"In this case, even if the opponent's strength is slightly weaker than ours, their progress can be faster than ours."

In Mikas's mind, ZF engineers know the best about transmissions in the world.

Even if Nanshan Transmission's progress is a little faster, it means that the other party's technology is more advanced.

At least that's not the view within ZF.

"We can't let this situation continue. You have to find a way to speed up the progress."

"Otherwise, the board of directors will definitely be very dissatisfied."

After Stephen said this, Mikas's face suddenly turned ugly.

This is the problem he fears most.

In his opinion, the progress of R&D projects is based on objective basis and needs.

You can’t just adjust it by saying so.

"I try my best."

Although he didn't accept it in his heart, Mikas knew that it was meaningless to resist in this situation.

So I just had to accept it with a pinch of my nose.

Just try your best first.

At least in the next few years, I don’t have to worry about someone else taking the position under my butt.

As for a few years later, we’ll talk about it then.

……

"Wolf, I think the company can strengthen its cooperation with Nanshan Transmission."

"Compared with Aisin, I think Nanshan Transmission is a better partner."

As BorgWarner's head of sales, Wesker is most concerned about the company's sales performance.

Compared with companies in Europe and Japan, American companies are more open to certain cooperation.

As long as it is beneficial to the performance of the capital market, can satisfy shareholders, and enable professional managers to achieve performance targets, they will receive generous rewards.

Then all cooperation plans can be discussed.

Previously, BorgWarner cooperated with Aisin to produce gearboxes, and the two parties also established a joint venture.

But now the situation has changed.

With the development of Nanshan Transmission, Wesker feels that the background of this cooperation has changed.

In his opinion, cooperating with Nanshan Transmission can bring more benefits.

"Do you think Nanshan Transmission can really develop a 6AT automatic transmission quickly?"

Compared with ZF and Nanshan Transmission, BorgWarner has been working towards diversification of its business in recent years.

Not that many resources are invested in the gearbox field.

So Volkswagen also knows that it cannot count on the company's own development team to be the first to develop a 6AT automatic transmission.

Since you can't do it yourself, you need to find a partner who can do it.

This is the survival rule for many American companies.

"If people from other companies boast that they can quickly come up with a 6AT automatic transmission."

“I don’t think this situation is necessarily trustworthy.”

"But if the people from Huaxia Nanshan Transmission say so, I think we should treat it with caution."

"They generally don't easily brag about things they can't do."

After Wesker said this, Wolfe's attitude also changed.

Since Nanshan Transmission will become a leader in the technology field in the next few years, if BorgWarner still wants to develop well in the transmission field, it should consider cooperating with Nanshan Transmission.

"Please arrange it. I will communicate with Nanshan Transmission in person."

"Let's see if there can be any major breakthrough."

After Wolfe said this, Wesker breathed a sigh of relief.

My future sales performance should be guaranteed.

As long as both sides start negotiating, everything has a chance.

He felt that the other party would not refuse so bluntly. (End of this chapter)