Is the ZF 8AT Transmission in the Great Wall Pao Imported?
3 Answers
The ZF 8AT transmission in the Great Wall Pao is imported. ZF's main products include not only mechanical transmissions, hydraulic automatic transmissions, and various gear transmission boxes but also steering gears, drive axles, pumps, suspension systems, and electromagnetic clutchers, which are widely used in automobiles, tanks, special vehicles, aircraft, boats, construction machinery, and agricultural machinery. The Great Wall Pao uses an 8-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission, abbreviated as AT, consists of a hydraulic torque converter, planetary gears, and a hydraulic control system, achieving speed and torque variation through hydraulic transmission and gear combinations. When using the Great Wall Pao's transmission daily, pay attention to the following points: Do not go too long without changing the transmission oil. Prolonged failure to change the transmission oil can damage internal components such as bearings and the casing. Avoid prolonged coasting in neutral. Many experienced drivers coast in neutral when driving manual transmission vehicles, but for automatic transmission vehicles, coasting in neutral can cause the transmission to overheat and produce a certain impact when shifting back into D gear. Never shift into D/R gear before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Many drivers, aiming for a smooth operation, shift directly into reverse gear before the vehicle has fully stopped, which can significantly damage the transmission gears and, over time, lead to gear grinding and other faults. Do not frequently climb steep slopes in D gear. When facing steep slopes, automatic transmission vehicles often overheat due to high loads or shift up too early, resulting in insufficient climbing power. In such cases, use manual mode to limit low gears or sport mode to protect the transmission. Do not tow the vehicle over long distances. If an automatic transmission vehicle breaks down, use a flatbed tow truck to move the vehicle onto the tow platform while in N gear. Do not use a tow rope or similar methods to tow the vehicle directly.
I've been driving the Great Wall Poer for two years now, and the ZF 8AT transmission in this truck is indeed genuine German imported. When I first got the vehicle, I specifically researched it - you can see the 'Made in Germany' marking on the transmission housing, and the accompanying documents also indicate it's an imported component. The gear shifts are exceptionally smooth during driving, and the RPM control is very stable on long-distance trips, significantly better than some domestic transmissions. Recently, while helping a fellow car enthusiast check out the new model, I noticed the latest Poer still uses the same imported transmission, just with more fuel-efficient tuning. I heard ZF hasn't established an 8AT production line in China yet, so for now they all have to be imported. However, imported parts are slightly more expensive to repair - last time my friend's transmission module failed, it took two weeks to get the replacement part.
The ZF 8AT transmission used in the Great Wall Pao is purely imported, which I specifically confirmed with a senior technician at the 4S store. Germany's ZF transmission technology is top-tier in the industry, with brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz using their products. Great Wall opted for imported transmissions primarily for their durability, especially since pickups often carry heavy loads. In actual driving, the gear shifts are crisp and decisive, particularly powerful when climbing hills in low gears. However, imported parts come with their own headaches—last time my transmission oil pan leaked, replacing the original seal cost over 800 yuan, and it took ten days for the part to arrive from Germany. Localization could make it cheaper and reduce waiting times for parts.
