With more than a quarter of Volvo Trucks North America vehicles rolling off the assembly line with a Volvo-built I-Shift automated manual transmission (AMT), parent firm Volvo Group of Sweden has opted to launch production of the transmission at its Hagerstown, MD, plant.
Volvo Group is also shifting production of Mack’s mDrive transmission to Hagerstown. The company is making a $7 million investment in the plant to add an assembly line for the products. Both transmissions are currently built in Koping, Sweden, and brought to Hagerstown for adaptation to North American markets, the company said.
The 12-spd. transmissions offer improved fuel economy, up to 1.5%, according to Mack, over a fully automated model.
Eco-Torque technology, which boosts the amount of torque available so the AMT doesn't have to downshift in hilly driving conditions, results in more power at more efficiency without driver interaction, according to Volvo..
The I-Shift is available on all Volvo models while the mDrive is offered on Mack’s Pinnacle highway tractors.
