ArvinMeritor Focuses on Automated Manual Gearboxes

ArvinMeritor announced a decision to place greater emphasis on the sales and marketing of the FreedomLine automated manual transmission by ZF Friedrichscafen in Germany. Conversely, the company plans to discontinue manufacturing the Meritor manual transmissions, effective January 2007. The company will honor current manual transmission orders and all orders received prior to September 2006, provided that they are to be delivered no later than January 2007. All Meritor manual transmissions sold and in service will continue to be supported by the company's sales, service and aftermarket parts support teams. ?We are absolutely convinced that we have the most advanced and proven technology solution with the FreedomLine for our North American customers,? said Tom Gosnell, president of the company's commercial vehicle systems business unit in an ArvinMeritor press release. ?We pledge to expand the number of motor carriers and their drivers who are delighted with the performance and benefits of our FreedomLine.? Production of the FreedomLine will remain in ArvinMeritor's facility in Laurinburg, NC, and the workforce connected with the manual transmissions will be absorbed into production positions on other components in the facility.