Automated Manual Transmission Installed in European Yaris for First Time (April 16, 2003)

Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Kariya, Aichi Prefecture; President: Kanshiro Toyoda) has developed a new transmission, Automated Manual Transmission, jointly with Aisin AI Co., Ltd. (Nishio, Aichi Prefecture; President: Masahiro Suo) and Toyota Motor Corporation. The transmission is now installed in the Yaris, a compact Toyota car released in mid-March in Europe. This is the first time that the transmission is installed in a Toyota car.

The Automated Manual Transmission has been developed by utilizing the Auto Clutch System and the Automatic Shift Mechanism, to automatize the clutch operation and shift operation of the existing Manual Transmission (M/T). The Automatic Shift Mechanism automatically shifts the gears, while the Auto Clutch System allows this to take place without use of the clutch pedal. The Automatic Gear Mode automatically changes gears, according to the driving speed and accelerator opening, and the Manual Mode enables the driver to choose the gear level freely. These two modes can be selected according to the driver's preference. It is a system making the most of the advantages of the existing M/T - high fuel efficiency and lightweight. The use of an electric motor mechanism for each actuator of the clutch and gear has realized a reduction in weight and cost.

Although Automatic Transmission (A/T) prevails in Japan and North America, M/T cars are mainstream in Europe. Due to the CO2 regulation in Europe that will be enforced in 2008, demand for the Automated Manual Transmission with higher fuel-efficiency than A/T is expected to grow. With the core business being its drivetrain related products, the AISIN Group is proud to have lined up the industry's largest collection of products including M/T, A/T, Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), clutches and a hybrid system. The Aisin Group continues to work on the development of high quality and attractive products that anticipate customers' needs, such as the response to downsizing, weight reduction and multiplication of gearshift to answer the needs of the age.

1.Product Name:

Automated Manual Transmission Note: Toyota Motor Corporation expresses it as "Multi-mode Manual Transmission"

2.Features:

(1) Fuel-efficient, as the timing of shift transmission is controlled automatically (2) Selectable according to the driver's preference: a) the Automatic Mode that combines fuel-efficiency and driving ease, or b) the Manual Mode that provides the responsive sense of driving of a car with manual transmission (3) Lightweight and low-cost by the electric motor method (It is lightweight and low-cost in order of a) M/T, b) Automated Manual Transmission, and c) A/T.)

Automated Manual Transmission