VW unveils advanced gearbox plant in Tianjin

Volkswagen AG unveiled a new transmission plant in the coastal city of Tianjin in North China in early November as part of its plan to make highly efficient cars for the world's largest auto market.

The 2.2 billion yuan ($359 million) plant in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area is designed to produce 450,000 double-clutch DQ380 gearboxes in the initial period, said the company.

Production capacity will be scaled up to 1.2 million units by 2016. The plant will eventually also produce the DQ500 gearbox, it said.