OREANDA-NEWS. The 7 millionth manual gearbox came off the production line at ?KODA's Mlad? Boleslav plant today. This number is divided into six million gearboxes of type MQ 200 and one million gearboxes of type MQ 100. Both transmissions are used in models made by ?KODA as well as other Volkswagen Group brands. Almost 700 people are employed in ?KODA’s production of gearboxes in Mlad? Boleslav.

"Producing 7 million manual transmissions proves the competitiveness of our component manufacturing in Mlad? Boleslav," says ?KODA Board Member for Production Michael Oeljeklaus. "The gearboxes produced in Mlad? Boleslav and the DSG transmissions manufactured in Vrchlab? boast the highest quality and absolute reliability in millions of applications every day. Over the coming years, we are going to further strengthen ?KODA’s powertrain production."

The MQ 200 gearbox has been running off the production lines at Mlad? Boleslav since 2000. It is installed in petrol vehicles with an engine capacity of 1.0 to 1.6 litres. These include ?KODA’s current vehicles, as well as models made by Volkswagen, Audi and Seat. The production volume for the MQ 200 is currently around 1200 units per day.

The MQ 100 gearbox has been produced in Mlad? Boleslav since 2011. It was originally conceived for the Volkswagen Group’s ‘new small family’ series, which includes the ?KODA Citigo, VW up! and the Seat Mii. The MQ 100 gearbox has since also been used in the ?KODA Fabia, as well as other small cars manufactured within the Volkswagen Group, each in combination with 1.0-litre petrol engines. The daily production capacity is approximately 1400 units.

In addition to MQ assembly at the main plant in Mlad? Boleslav, the production of the modern direct gearbox DQ 200 at the Vrchlab? plant is another pillar of ?KODA’s transmission production. Since the start of production in 2012, ?KODA has invested some 210 million euros into the production facilities there in association with the Volkswagen Group. Furthermore, the carmaker intends to expand the production capacity at the Vrchlab? plant: The daily manufacturing volume is set to increase to 2000 DQ 200 gearboxes by March 2016. Approximately 960,000 DQ 200 gearboxes have been produced there to date. The site employs around 1000 people in the region.

The production of transmissions at these two locations highlights the Czech carmaker’s skill and competitiveness in the area of powertrain manufacturing. This includes the production of three- and four-cylinder engines in the EA 211 series and powertrains in the EA 111 series.