Eaton plans to launch four new automatic transmission models for light- and medium-duty commercial vehicles in Brazil, according to regional media reports. Eaton will present the transmissions at its factory in São Paulo on 25 April. The units comprise the EA-6106 6-gear transmission, the UltraShift Plus PV and UltraShift Plus MHD 6-gear transmissions − all to be built at the plant − and the Precision 7-speed transmission developed in the United States. The Precision transmission is designed for larger buses of more than 17 tonnes and are not expected to be produced in Brazil.
Significance: According to the IHS Automotive transmission forecast, Eaton's production in Brazil has slipped from 118,371 units in 2013 to 94,283 units in 2015, as the market has struggled and production declines. Registrations of commercial vehicles − imported and produced in Brazil − have declined by 32.1% over the first three months of 2016, ending the period at 13,111 units. Production of medium and heavy commercial vehicles in Brazil has declined by 35.2% over the same period, to 15,113 units. Customers of Eaton's Brazilian transmission production include Agrale, Volkswagen, General Motors (GM), Iveco and Ford, with GM the company's largest customer.
