Hyundai India to introduce AMT-equipped engines by 2018

Following in the footsteps of manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Tata and Renault, Hyundai India is now gearing up to introduce automated manual transmission (AMT)-equipped vehicles in the country by or from 2018. Although it is not yet clear which Hyundai models will be getting the AMT treatment, the information has been corroborated by none other than Hyundai Motors India Managing Director, Young Key Koo.

If technology and past examples from other manufacturers are any indication, entry-level Hyundais will be the first in line to benefit from the change in powertrain. The Eon, Grand i10, and i20 Active hatchbacks will probably be the first to get this new technology. Hyundai's compact SUV which will be launched in 2019 could also get the AMT option.

If not manufactured in-house, Hyundai’s upcoming AMT gearbox will most likely come from ZF Sachs, the famous German automotive ancillary maker that also supplies the AMT kit for the recently-launched Duster AMT. On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors source their AMT transmissions from Italian giant, Magneti Marelli, the largest manufacturer of AMT systems in the world.

AMT gearboxes have numerous significant benefits over their conventional counterparts. Basically a manual gearbox with an electromagnetic clutch system, they are cheaper to make while offering similiar fuel efficiency. This combination of offering the benefit of an automatic gearbox at a lower cost is what makes them so attractive for a cost-conscious market like India, and why sales of AMT-equipped small vehicles have been through the roof in the last two years.

Hyundai India currently offers the Grand i10, Xcent, Verna, Elantra, Creta and Santa Fe in automatic variants in the country.