Volkswagen-owned brands are aiming for synergies from joint transmission development.
European cousins MAN and Scania have announced they will co-operate on gearbox technology.
As part of the collaboration, Scania’s gearbox hardware will be gradually implemented in TGS and TGX series MAN trucks from 2016.
MAN says it will develop software for the optimal gear changing strategy for its trucks.
The Volkswagen group brands also aim to jointly develop the subsequent generation of the current Scania gearbox portfolio.
“Scania and MAN will be using a collectively developed, innovative gearbox concept in their vehicles in the future,” MAN CEO Anders Nielsen says.
“Our aim with this co-operation is for components which set global benchmarks for commercial vehicle technology to emerge,” Nielsen says.
“That’s why we want to co-operate on development projects with Scania in future too, provided that these do not impact upon their respective brands.”
MAN says it and Scania will remain separate brands “in line with Volkswagen’s multi-brand strategy”, with sales and service activities also separate.
“This project is a major step forward in the collaboration carried out by the commercial vehicle alliance which consists of MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles,” MAN says.
“The alliance enables the companies to exchange their know-how as much as possible and make immediate use of the synergies of the collaboration.”
ZF Friedrichshafen will also remain as a transmission supplier for MAN’s trucks and buses.