Hyundai India to launch its AMT in 2018 - Report

11/05/2016 - 12:51 | ,   | Anjan Ravi

All of HMIL's products currently use a MT or a traditional torque converter AT.

Speaking to the Economic Times, Hyundai Motor India Ltd.'s CEO, Mr. Young Key Koo, confirmed that the company will bring an AMT to the market in 2018. Mr. Koo did not disclose which product would get the AMT, but said that gradually, all models in the model range will receive the technology.

Hyundai Eon 1L IAB spied front
Entry-level products like the Hyundai Eon and i10 are available only with a 5-speed MT at the moment.

Hyundai's main rival, and the country's largest carmaker, Maruti-Suzuki, has triumphed with its AMT technology, which was introduced in 2014 starting with the Celerio. Since then, it has sold over 100,000 vehicles with the AMT technology, the range which now extends from the Maruti Alto K10 to the Maruti Swift Dzire. Renault India is also betting on the AMT technology, having launched it on the Duster and preparing it for the Kwid this year.

In comparison, HMIL's entry-level Eon and i10 are available only with a manual gearbox. The Grand i10 is available with the traditional 4-speed torque converter, which apart from being an expensive technology also delivers lower fuel efficiency than the manual (an AMT delivers comparable efficiency to a manual transmission, and the capital cost is nearly half of what a torque converter or CVT costs).

2015 Maruti Alto K10 gear AMT press shot
Maruti has sold over 100,000 units of its AMT-equipped products.

Also read: Hyundai Creta - Review

According to a recent report, HMIL will launch a small car in H2 2018 to rival the Renault Kwid. The car, codenamed Hyundai AH, could debut the Korean carmaker's AMT technology.

[Source - Economic Times]

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