Why Do Domestic Cars Mostly Use Dual-Clutch Transmissions?
2 Answers
There are two main reasons why domestic cars have been using dual-clutch transmissions: 1. Market Supply Shortage: There are only a few globally renowned transmission manufacturers. The booming sales of domestic car brands in recent years have led to a shortage of mid-to-low-end transmissions. As a result, most domestic manufacturers purchase whatever transmissions are available. 2. Low R&D Costs: Dual-clutch transmissions have relatively low research and development costs and low entry barriers. 3. National Policy Support: The government supports the development of dual-clutch transmissions. Since the introduction of the new purchase tax policy in 2015, the government has halved the purchase tax for small-displacement vehicles. Small-displacement cars now occupy a larger market share than before. One of the biggest advantages of dual-clutch transmissions is their high thermal efficiency and excellent transmission efficiency, allowing even small-displacement cars to achieve good performance.
I've thought about this many times, dual-clutch transmissions are really common in domestic cars. I work in auto parts, and to put it bluntly, the most practical reason is the low cost. Aisin's 6AT alone costs 40% more than a dual-clutch in procurement, allowing automakers to save a fortune. Nowadays, domestic brands are particularly active in developing dual-clutch transmissions, like Chery's Getrag and Geely's Volvo technology, which pair exceptionally smoothly with their 1.5T engines. A few years ago, people still complained about jerking, but with the third-generation products now, you barely feel the gear shifts even in traffic jams. The other day, I was helping a friend pick a car and noticed that most domestic cars priced just over 100,000 yuan use dual-clutch transmissions, while joint-venture brands tend to use CVTs more. In the end, it all comes down to the maturity of the supply chain—transmission factories in Chongqing can roll out thousands of units daily.
