GM Preparing to Make CVTs In-House

GM’s CVT Transmissions will be made in ‘murica.

General Motors (GM) is in the later stages of its planning for the development of an in-house CVT (continuously variable transmission) as it gears up for the requirements of the oncoming 2025 CAFE.

According to a Wards Auto report, General Motors will use its new transmission in various models by the year 2019. The transmission will probably be coupled with new three of four-cylinder engines which are going to be released by the company in the later part of this year.

In an interview to Wards Auto, Tom Read, the spokesman of GM Powertrain, said that the company cannot confirm whether it is developing a CVT. However, he told, “Obviously, we have the capability.” He further added, “GM has unmatched transmission expertise and development resources and is capable of delivering additional CVTs if and when they’re needed.”

Continuously Variable Transmission is used often in hybrid vehicles in order to increase mileage and extend electric range. The cost and weight of vehicles are reduced and they become more compact unlike when equipped with a regular automatic transmission.

Although the CVT technology is used in GM models, it can only be found in limited number of applications which consist of the ’15 Chevy Spark. Wards Auto reported that GM is thick into its plans of developing a CVT which will be in quite a few high volume models by the year 2019. The report further mentions that the auto maker is at present hosting various suppliers at Pontiac, in its global powertrain headquarters, in order to solicit bids for components.

The CVTs that came earlier from GM obtained only mixed results. In the early 2000s, the car manufacturer regarded it as the perfect fuel-saver and equipped the Ion small car and the Saturn Vue CUV – now obsolete vehicles – and also the Opel Vectra. However, in 2004, it stopped the program due to production snags and drivability issues.

If the GM CVT models see the light of the day, it would be a significant move, particularly in the U.S., where buyers have typically moved away from CVT-equipped models due to the alien, shiftless experience. They account for only 12% of the transmissions in the 2014 models.

Source: Data and information presented on this blog have been sourced from http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/01/gm-preparing-to-make-cvts-in-house-.html