The company has been making AMT gearboxes for cars in the lower end of its portfolio for a while now. But now, for its upcoming premium range of cars, Tata wants to offer Dual-Clutch Transmissions (DCTs).
These gearboxes are refined, efficient and smooth-shifting. Rajendra Petkar, head power systems engineering, Tata Motors, said, “There appears to be a good potential as far as DCT is concerned. Full automatics have a drawback of low fuel economy and CVTs can work only in certain operating conditions.”
The company makes gearboxes on its own, but in the case of the DCT it may not. “Unless we reach economies of scale it doesn’t make sense,” says Petkar. The company may look to outsource this task and is looking to share costs with Jaguar Land Rover as well.