Stellantis produces its first e-DCT box for its future hybrids

The first electrified automatic transmission was produced in the Stellantis factory in Metz at the beginning of September in a mild-hybrid version.

Founded in 2018, the Punch Powertrain PSA e-transmissions Assembly joint venture produced its first electrified e-DCT automatic transmission in September. It will equip hybrid vehicles Citroën, DS, Peugeot and other brands of the Stellantis group from early 2023.

Stellantis (formerly the PSA group) is preparing its factories for the drop in sales of heat engines and the rise in electrification. The Douvrin site will therefore be converted into the manufacture of ACC batteries (PSA-Total / Saft) and that of Trémery into electric motors as part of the joint venture with Nidec. For its part, the Metz site will devote part of its activity to the production of the new electrified automatic gearbox e-DCT within the joint venture with Punch Powertrain. Thanks to its partnerships, the Stellantis group masters the value chain of electrified vehicles by producing a large majority of the components.

600,000 transmissions per year

metz stellantis punch powertrain factory — Area intended to accommodate the future e-DCT electrified gearbox manufacturing line at the Metz site.

Designed and developed by Punch Powertrain in Belgium and the Netherlands, the e-DCT transmission (which is similar to a double clutch) was born in early September in a pre-production version. This 48V mild-hybrid variant (light hybridization) will be followed in early November by the model for plug-in hybrids. After the pilot workshop, the Metz plant is carrying out work to install the logistics docks, the filtration plant and the offices. The objective is to reach the maturity of products and processes within a few months by dint of tests and trials. The first assembly line should release the first transmissions for September 2022 then will follow the second at the start of 2023. In total, both will have a capacity of 300,000 units each, produced by four production teams, or 500 employees.

Lightweight and plug-in hybrids

e-DCT transmission psa punch powertrain — On the left, the mild-hybrid version of the e-DCT transmission and on the right its plug-in hybrid variant which will arrive in 2024.

Two versions of this transmission are planned. From autumn 2022, the mild-Hybrid 48V model will be associated with the new 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder engine and will equip almost all of the group’s models. From 2024, this plant will produce the PHEV 320V variant which will be mated to the new generation of the EP 1.6 PureTech engine produced from 2023 at Opel in Hungary. This new plug-in hybrid architecture will replace the current system which combines the 1.6 PureTech with the e-EAT8 automatic transmission (from 180 to 300 hp) supplied by the Japanese equipment manufacturer Aisin. It should be inaugurated by all compact SUVs (Peugeot 3008 and 5008, Citroën C5 Aircross II and Opel Grandland) developed on the STLA Medium platform (or e-VMP).