JATCO Ltd Business Report FY2010
Business Highlights
FY2010 (FY ended Mar. 31, 2010)
- The Company announced on July 27 it has achieved a cumulative production of 5 million units of its belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) for medium-size front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles (JF011E), for the first time as a single product in the world. Production of this CVT model started in 2004 as a new generation CVT for the Nissan Lafesta with a displacement ranging from 2 to 2.5 liters. Its production started in Mexico in November 2005, and in Guangzhou, China in September 2009. Installation of this CVT has been expanded as a global unit to nearly 30 vehicles models of seven automakers in and out of Japan. The 5 millionth mark has reached in about 6 years since the start of production.
(From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on July. 28, 2010)
(From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on November. 9, 2010)
-The Company announced that the cumulative CVT production has reached 100 thousand units at its Chinese unit JATCO (Guangzhou) Automatic Transmission Ltd. (JGZ). JGZ started production of belt CVT for 2.0-2.5 liter class vehicles in 2009. This CVT is currently fitted on Dongfeng Nissan's Teana, Qashqai, X-Trail and Sylphy models. JGZ, in order to meet the growing demand for CVTs in the Chinese market, is adding a production line. The new line is expected to become operative in mid 2011. With the plant's current production capacity of 140 thousand units per year, JGZ's annual production capacity will be increased to 380 thousand units following the installation of the new line.
(From a press release on June 23, 2010)
Contracts
-Followings are major contracts from press releases issued between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011| Maker/ Model | Products |
| Nissan Delica D:2 | CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Nissan Moco | CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Suzuki Splash | CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Suzuki MR wagon | CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Suzuki Solio | CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Nissan Juke | CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Nissan March |
4-speed ATs for compact FWD vehicles, CVTs with auxiliary gearbox for mini and compact FWD vehicles |
| Suzuki Landy | Belt CVTs for medium-duty FWD vehicles |
| Nissan Serena | Belt CVTs for medium-duty FWD vehicles |
| Nissan Lafesta | Belt CVTs for medium-duty FWD vehicles |
| Nissan Elgrand | Belt CVTs for medium-duty FWD vehicles, Belt CVTs for heavy-duty FWD vehicles |
| Nissan X-Trail | Belt CVTs for medium-duty FWD vehicles |
| Nissan X-Trail 20GT | 6-speed ATs for medium- and heavy-duty FWD vehicles |
| Nissan Fuga Hybrid | Transmissions for hybrid vehicles |
Business Overview
- The Company has announced that its cumulative production figure for CVT has reached 10 million units over approximately 14 years since production began in 1997. This is the world's first example of a cumulative production figure of CVT by a single manufacturer reaching the 10-million mark, according to the company. (From a press release on January 20, 2011)- The Company announced on July 27 it has achieved a cumulative production of 5 million units of its belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) for medium-size front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles (JF011E), for the first time as a single product in the world. Production of this CVT model started in 2004 as a new generation CVT for the Nissan Lafesta with a displacement ranging from 2 to 2.5 liters. Its production started in Mexico in November 2005, and in Guangzhou, China in September 2009. Installation of this CVT has been expanded as a global unit to nearly 30 vehicles models of seven automakers in and out of Japan. The 5 millionth mark has reached in about 6 years since the start of production.
(From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on July. 28, 2010)
Recent Developments outside Japan
The Company announced on November 8 that Jatco (Guangzhou) Automatic Transmission Ltd., its production subsidiary in China, will start manufacturing continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) with auxiliary transmission systems for light- and compact- vehicles in April 2011. Jatco says the Chinese facility is the first production base outside Japan for the Jatco's newest CVT technology. Jatco Guangzhou will be able to produce 240,000 units of these CVTs per year, thereby increasing its overall annual production capacity to 380,000 units by April 2011.(From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on November. 9, 2010)
-The Company announced that the cumulative CVT production has reached 100 thousand units at its Chinese unit JATCO (Guangzhou) Automatic Transmission Ltd. (JGZ). JGZ started production of belt CVT for 2.0-2.5 liter class vehicles in 2009. This CVT is currently fitted on Dongfeng Nissan's Teana, Qashqai, X-Trail and Sylphy models. JGZ, in order to meet the growing demand for CVTs in the Chinese market, is adding a production line. The new line is expected to become operative in mid 2011. With the plant's current production capacity of 140 thousand units per year, JGZ's annual production capacity will be increased to 380 thousand units following the installation of the new line.
(From a press release on June 23, 2010)
R&D
R&D Facilities
| Head Office | Fuji City, Shizuoka Pref. |
| Atsugi R&D Center | Atsugi City, Kanagawa Pref. |
| Okazaki R&D Center | Okazaki City, Aichi Pref. |
| Motegi Proving Ground | Haga-gun, Tochigi Pref. |
Product Developments
Focus of development activities were set on the following areas: : Belt CVTs
- Improving transmission efficiency
- Improving startup and acceleration performances
- Developing compact and lightweight products
- Reducing friction
- Installing on a wide range of vehicles
- Adding neutral idle control technology
- Designing and developing idle-stop function
Step ATs
- Developing fuel efficient ATs with multiple gear ratios for wide range of vehicles
- Reducing product weight
- Improving control technology
- Expanding use of lock-up system and introducing neutral idle control technology
- Designing and developing idle-stop function
Developing transmissions for hybrid vehicles
- Further improving environmental responsiveness
Product Developments
- The Company has launched research and development activities of a transmission for application solely to electric vehicles. Conventional design concept of an electric vehicle has hitherto been elimination of a transmission that could lead to an increase in cost and weight. It is, however, technologically possible for the transmission to help save consumption of electricity and enhance driving performance by uses of a smaller size motor. The Company is aiming to develop a new type of transmission optimized for an electric vehicle in an attempt to explore new business opportunities. What the transmission supplier has in mind is a two- or three-speed simple structure product.(From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on September. 10, 2010)- The Company has developed a new 4-speed automatic transmission "JF414E" for small front-wheel drive vehicles. This AT is being installed in the Nissan March which went on sale in China in August 2010. JATCO 4-speed AT for small front-wheel drive vehicles has been remodeled for the first time in approximately 21 years. By leveraging a super-flat torque converter and redesigning parts, substantial reductions have been achieved - 11% in overall length, 15% in weight and 32% in friction - compared to the existing JATCO product. The JF414E is manufactured at the company's Fuji Area No.4 facility in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture. (From a press release on August 30, 2010)
Investment Activities
Investments Outside Japan
<China>- In December 2012, the Company announced it will increase the yearly production capacity at the Jatco (Guangzhou) Automatic Transmission Ltd. from the current 380,000 units in April 2011 to 730,000 units by the spring of 2012. The company is investing approximately 20 billion yen in this project to meet further expected growth in demand for CVTs in the Chinese market. The expansion will double the number of employees of the subsidiary from about 700 in April 2011 to 1,400. (From a press release, December 20, 2010)