AutomaticShift Offers More Efficiency, Less Strain on Equipment

Unimog North America has announced the availability of the electronic automated AutomaticShift transmission for North American-model Unimog U500 commercial vehicles. This automated transmission is designed to make driving easier and more efficient while minimizing wear and tear, according to company officials.

Introduced to the North American market earlier this year, the Unimog U500 is intended for specialized applications such as firefighting, utility service, municipal and highway services, construction and rail yard work.

The AutomaticShift transmission system allows gear changes without the use of a clutch pedal, allowing for less strain on the drive train, longer clutch life, lower maintenance costs and reduced fuel consumption. The transmission system automatically selects the most appropriate gear, depending on vehicle load, engine operating state and the position of the accelerator, thus eliminating the risk of incorrectoperation or selecting the wrong gear. Manual intervention is possible at any time when the system is in automatic mode.