Wabco, the global supplier of technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, today announced that Daimler Trucks has extended its long-term supply agreement with the company for new heavy-duty automated manual transmission (AMT) control technology to support its series production mainly in Europe, North America, Japan, and South America.

Headquartered in Germany, Daimler Trucks is the world’s largest manufacturer of trucks over six tons. Daimler’s five truck brands – Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Fuso, Western Star and BharatBenz – are manufactured and sold for different applications around the world.

Wabco currently supplies Daimler Trucks with its newest generation of tailored AMT solutions. The company says its innovative AMT control technology transforms a manual transmission into an efficient, cost-effective solution that automatically shifts gears and controls clutch actuation for commercial vehicles. It enables drivers to focus further attention on road and traffic conditions, resulting in increased comfort and safety. It also helps to minimise any performance gap between highly skilled and less experienced drivers.

The newest AMT solution increases fuel savings through optimised gear shifting. It also differentiates by helping vehicle operators to significantly reduce mechanical wear, lower maintenance costs and decrease vehicle downtime. In addition, the company says the AMT technology has been engineered to reduce fuel consumption consistent with the industry’s most stringent standards.

“Our industry continues to adopt automated manual transmission technology with great growth potential in the United States and all BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – as original equipment manufacturers and fleet operators seek to increase driver comfort and safety, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions,” said Jorge Solis, Wabco president – Truck, Bus and Car Original Equipment Manufacturers Division. “Our new contract with Daimler Trucks extends our existing AMT supply agreement, while also expanding volume.”

First to market in 1986 with automated manual transmission control technology for commercial vehicles, Wabco is the global market leader with 3.5 million AMT systems sold.