ZF: Still No Plan for 10-Speed Gearbox

ZF Friedrichshafen AG reiterates it won't try to better its 9-speed automatic transmission with an additional gear.

CEO Stefan Sommer tells reporters that going beyond nine speeds adds enough weight, friction and size to offset the advantage of the additional gear ratio.

Sommer made the same point two years ago, when ZF suggested that 10-speed gearboxes would have more marketing than performance value. General Motors, Ford, Hyundai and Volkswagen are developing 10-speed transmissions.

Last year ZF rolled out its front-wheel-drive 9-speed gearbox, which it figures is about 16% more fuel efficient than a 6-speed automatic. The company says its design matches the efficiency of dual-clutch transmissions but with significantly better start-up acceleration.