Shanghai (ZXZC)- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd inked a letter of intent with French automatic transmission supplier Punch Powerglide several days ago at the Sino-French Roundtable on the Industrial Cooperation to conduct collaboration on transmissions, according to a press release from the France-based company.

(Photo source: Changan Automobile)

Changan Automobile is determining to consolidate the strength in independent development of powertrain. On June 4, the Chongqing-based automaker launched the Blue Core Powertrain Brand themed “China heart drives future forward”.

According to the carmaker, the Blue Core is divided into three sectors, including engine, hybrid drive system and transmission. The transmission arm has already planned two products—a 6-speed hybrid transmission and a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission.

Changan Automobile said the Blue Core NE Platform is a new power platform based on the leading modular design of Changan and is also designed for the next-generation emission and fuel consumption regulations and standards.

Earmarked for China VI emission standard, the Blue Core NE Platform, as an important part of the Shangri-La Project, presets the upgrade path of Euro 7 and is compatible with 48V, HEV, PHEV, REEV design, marks the official entry into the 3.0 era of Changan Power Research and Development.

Founded in 1967, Punch Powerglide has established itself as a global automatic transmission supplier, firstly as General Motors Strasbourg, then under the trading title of PUNCH Powerglide Strasbourg (PPS) since 2013, according to the company’s self-introduction posted on its official website.

It provides its clients with innovative and bespoke solutions for production processes and research for the development of automatic transmissions as well as engineering services.

In 2015, Punch Powerglide opened up a subsidiary in Tianjin, China with a view to bolstering its coverage of the Chinese market and being closer to its partners and clients of the automotive sector.