BorgWarner Expands in France

In response to increasing European demand for BorgWarner’s dual clutch transmission technology, known as DualTronic, and associated new business gained in transmission controls systems, BorgWarner Transmission Systems has opened a new, 170,000-square-foot facility in Eyrein, north of Tulle, France.
The new facility replaces a smaller facility in central Tulle and includes application engineering, testing, prototyping and manufacturing capabilities.
It will produce solenoids for automatic transmission controls as well as BorgWarner’s DualTronic transmission control modules.
The new facility currently employs about 280 people.
“As more customers and drivers experience the improved fuel economy and performance of this exciting technology, we expect the demand for dual clutch transmissions in Europe to continue to grow significantly,” said Dr. Bernd Matthes, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Transmission Systems.
“BorgWarner is pleased to expand its capabilities in France in order to accommodate increased demand for our dual clutch transmission control modules and other transmission products.”
Among the company and government officials attending the opening ceremonies in early December were BorgWarner Chairman and CEO Tim Manganello and the French Minister Delegate for Industry, Francois Loos.
The DualTronic clutch and transmission control technology enables a conventional, manual gearbox to function as a fully automatic transmission by eliminating the “torque-interrupt” feeling that occurs when a manual transmission shifts gears, while delivering performance and fuel economy that rival that of a manual transmission.
The technology debuted on the VW Golf R32 DSG and the Audi TT 3.2 in 2003.
BorgWarner has announced five programs with four customers, including VW/Audi, Getrag, another European OEM and SAIC in China.
Total BorgWarner dual clutch technology programs announced to date represent over 1.5 million transmissions per year at full production volumes.