Aiming to strengthen its foothold in the growing two wheeler market, TVS Motor company said that it would introduce automatic transmission scooters and motorcycles from 2013, with 20% better fuel efficiency.

The Chennai-based auto major showcased its latest automatic transmission engines for a 110cc scooter and a motorcycle, both likely to come out in the second half of 2013.

Mr Vinay Harne president (New Product Development) of TVS Motor Company told reporters that "We will introduce the scooter and motorcycle from the second half of 2013.Engine capacity will be from 110 cc. It has fully automatic gearshift and 20% better fuel efficiency compared to conventional technology, with significant reduction in carbon emission.”

Declining to reveal the cost involved in developing the technology, he said TVS engineers had been working on developing the new platform for the last six to seven years.

Mr Harne said TVS would also introduce these technologies on current models along with the new models from the second half of 2013.

He claimed acceleration and initial performance would improve with this technology and added that engine weight would come down by 15 per cent while for motorcycles it would be higher by five per cent.

Noting that the company has filed many patents in India and abroad over the last six years to develop this technology, Harne said the automatic transmission engines would offer the same convenience as in Continuously Variable Transmission technology vehicles.

(Sourced from ET)