India: Magneti Marelli’s Automated Manual Transmission named “Technology of the Year 2015”

MILAN, 13-2-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — The prestigious Indian automotive magazine “Overdrive” and the CNBC-TV18 related television network gave the “Technology of the Year 2015” award to the Magneti Marelli’s Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) technology.

Established in 2000, for 15 years the prestigious “CNBC-TV 18 Overdrive Award” has been acknowledging the technological and product excellence in the Indian and international automotive industry and is the only recognition held in association with the major Indian automotive industry bodies (Confederation of Indian Industry, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India).

The “Technology of the Year 2015” award was assigned to the Magneti Marelli Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) technology following the great market success obtained in 2014 in India. The AMT represents, both from the consumer’s point of view and from the perspective of the carmaker, an example of a technological value-added solution but at affordable cost which, by automating a manual gearbox with an electro-hydraulic “add-on” device, combines comfort in driving, consumption and emissions optimisation, and containment of industrial costs.

In this sense, for the jury of the “CNBC-TV 18 Overdrive Award” , the Magneti Marelli AMT is thus one of the relevant technological responses to the needs derived from the “big shift” taking place in the Indian automotive market. Despite the mixed trends in the automotive global market, India continues to be one of the fastest growing markets worldwide, offering both carmakers and suppliers the opportunity to propose new technological solutions and innovations. The prizes awarded by “CNBC-TV 18 Overdrive Award 2015” recognise and reward the technologies that are able to make a difference in future scenarios.

The “CNBC-TV 18 Overdrive Award” is assigned by a mixed panel of journalists from the magazine and by a number of external influential opinion leaders in the industry, and with its 22 award categories it covers virtually all the relevant areas of the automotive and motorcycle universe, referring to models, technologies and also communication in the Indian automotive sector.

Overdrive is the main magazine of cars and motorcycles in India. Its “spin-off” programme broadcast on the CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNN IBN channels is followed every month by more than nine million viewers, and represents the most important car programme in the country.

Eugenio Razelli, CEO, Magneti Marelli, said: “We are delighted to have received this award for a technology that summarises and represents the mission and vision of Magneti Marelli: innovation and technology at affordable cost. I also consider this award an indirect recognition of the Magneti Marelli commitment and investments in India, where only in 2007 we had nothing in place and where today we can count on nine industrial plants and a series of strategic partnerships that cover all the business areas”.

Mr. Saju Mookken, Country Head India, Magneti Marelli said: “We would like to thank the team at CNBC Overdrive for acknowledging our contribution to the Indian automobile industry. This is an important award for us as it celebrates the innovation, enthusiasm, commitment and hard work that allowed us to develop the innovative AMT technology. Over the last couple of years, this blend between the areas of innovation and reduced fuel consumption has generated a lot of attention in cities where traffic congestions are pretty rampant. We are extremely motivated and excited about our presence in India and going ahead we will focus our energies on providing more cutting-edge solutions to the automobile industry”.

The award-winning AMT technology has been adopted by mass car-makers Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors in India.

The AMT is an effective solution for transmission, combining comfort, reduced consumption and emissions, applicability to any manual transmission and lower production costs compared to traditional automatic transmissions.

The technology is based on an electronic control unit combined with an electro-hydraulic system that controls the use of the clutch in gear changes, allowing the driver to change the ratio without using the clutch in sequential or in completely automatic mode.

The electronic optimisation of the transmission offered by the AMT also means lower consumption and CO2 emissions compared to vehicles equipped with standard automatic transmission and manual transmission.

According to the financial results just released, in 2014 Magneti Marelli achieved record global revenues of 6.5 billion Euro.

In India in particular, Magneti Marelli has progressively consolidated its presence, which began in 2007, marking continuous and constant growth with a footprint consisting of nine plants: five in the North (the areas of Manesar and Haryana), active in the field of electronic control units, intake manifolds, exhaust systems, instrument clusters, three operating in the Pune region in the field of lighting systems, intake manifolds and pedals, exhausts and shock absorbers, and one in Chennai for the exhaust systems. Currently, approximately 2300 people are employed in Magneti Marelli India.

Magneti Marelli produces advanced systems and components for the automobile industry. With 89 production units, 12 R&D centres and 26 application centres in 19 countries, more than 38,000 employees and a turnover of 6,5 billion Euro in 2014, the Group supplies all the major carmakers in Europe, North and South America and the Far East. The business areas include Electronic Systems, Lighting, Motor Control, Suspension Systems and Shock Absorbers, Exhaust Systems, Aftermarket Parts & Services, Plastic Components and Modules, and Motorsport. Magneti Marelli is part of FCA.

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