China’s first eight-speed automatic transmission, developed by Shengrui Transmission in Weifang city, Shandong province, has reached prototype form and been launched to the market.

It is claimed to be the world’s first FF (Front-engine, Front-drive) eight-speed automatic transmission as well, website Gasgoo.com reported.

According to the report, in early 2007, Shengrui Transmission began cooperating with Chemnitz University of Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and other organisations in China and abroad to develop the transmission that “has independent intellectual property rights and has reached the international advanced level”.

The prototye has met all design targets.