Wabco Introduces OptiDrive Automated Manual Transmission

Wabco Holdings introduced the brand name of OptiDrive for its new modular automated manual transmission system.

This new system's high degree of modularity significantly reduces the development time required for application to transmission and vehicle platforms, enabling faster time to market for manufacturers of trucks, buses and transmissions, according to the company. The new OptiDrive system can also be easily adapted to an existing manual transmission without changing it, further accelerating market introduction.

Depending on the driver's preference, Wabco's new OptiDrive system can change gears in full automatic mode or as initiated by the driver. By optimizing the gear shifting process, this new system improves vehicle control and enhances comfort. It also significantly contributes to lower average fuel consumption by shifting at the most effective speed, a major cost saving over the vehicle's lifetime.

China National Heavy Truck Corporation began equipping their new flagship truck series with Wabco's OptiDrive system in December 2008. The largest producer of heavy duty trucks in China, CNHTC is the world's first original equipment manufacturer to adopt Wabco's OptiDrive system in volume production.