VW may Find Transmission Solution for Bentley in Russia?

Recently, it has become known that the Volkswagen Group may use Russian automatic transmissions to increase the local content of products made within Russia. The Russian company KATE specialized in manufacturing of automatic transmissions is considered to be a potential supplier to the German carmaker.

Marcus Osegowitsch

Alexander Morozov

The issue was raised during the meeting between Marcus Osegowitsch (General Director of VW branch in Russia) and Alexander Morozov (Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation). Mr. Osegowitsch complained about changes in state aid rules for the auto industry in 2019. The thing is that the Government plans to increase its financial aid for Russian companies in several strategic areas (namely, in production of engines, gearboxes, and control units. He also noted that VW manufactures engines at its production facility in Kaluga not only for the local market, but also actively exports them to VW’s assembly facilities around the globe. However, it is economically unviable for VW to invest in the manufacturing of gearboxes in Russia due to the low scope of their application.

Mr. Morozov, in turn, said that the Russian authorities will support the suppliers of auto elements only in case if the automakers apply their products in car models. As a solution, VW received a proposal to work with the Russian company KATE. This company provides transmission solutions for Aurus cars vehicles. Mr. Morozov said that KATE can produce transmissions for Bentley (now part of the VW Group) in Russia. As a result, the German carmaker will be able to save money and to get a quality product.

This proposal was a response to the doubts Mr. Osegowitsch on reasonability of expanding the local manufacturing content of some auto elements in Russia, due to small volumes of output. If VW and KATE go into business, the German carmaker will get financial benefits for manufacturing of engines and gearboxes in Russia and their export. Currently, Bentley cars are equipped with ZF transmissions.

Aurus Senat limo for government officials equipped with the R932 transmission

Learn more about the R932 transmission

KATE has been in the transmission industry for more than 15 years, but it achieved some prominence thanks to creation of the R932 transmission for the project “Kortezh”.

It should be mentioned that KATE recently uploaded a video on its youtube page on the process of the R932 transmission assembly.

The video shows the assembly process of the R932 transmission. This 9-speed transmission solution is notable for the lack of a torque converter: torque is transferred via 4 planetary gear sets. Thanks to this design peculiarity, the R932 transmission has increased efficiency. This transmission transmits up to 1000 Nm of torque. All Aurus models also will be equipped with the 4.4-liter V8 engine The “Kortezh” family was presented at the exhibition in Moscow.