Nissan to boost sales of CVT-equipped cars

Japan’s Nissan aims to have one in two Nissans sold in China to feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which helps improve fuel efficiency by almost 10%, by 2012. The move comes at a time when consumer interest in fuel-efficient vehicles is growing in China. Affiliate firm Jatco Ltd. is set to open a CVT factory with an annual capacity of 140,000 units in China’s Guangzhou at mid-year, allowing for local procurement by Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co.’s flagship plant, which is located in the same city. Dongfeng Nissan now offers such CVT-equipped vehicles as the X-trail SUV, the Teana luxury sedan and the Sylphy mid-size sedan. (February 20, 2009)