JATCO (Guangzhou) Automatic Transmission Ltd. (JGZ; President: Takashi Kamijukkoku), a China based production plant of JATCO Ltd (President & CEO Shigeo Ishida, Headquartered in Fuji City, Shizuoka, Japan, Capital: 29.9353 billion yen), a manufacturer of automatic and continuously variable transmissions (AT/CVT), announced a plan to expand its current facility for further production increase.

JATCO established JGZ in China in April 2007 as its second overseas production base after its plant in Mexico in order to meet the increasing global demand for CVTs, which are gaining attention as environmentally friendly technology. JGZ started full-fledged production of belt CVTs for 2.0-2.5 liter class vehicles in September 2009.

This expansion is for the purpose of coping with expected increase in demand for CVTs in the Chinese market. A new production line with an annual production capacity of 240,000 units will be constructed. With the plant’s current annual production capacity of 140,000 units, total annual production capacity of JGZ will become 380,000 units. The investment for the construction of the new facility and production equipment is 5.3 billion yen ( around 400 million RMB ) in total and the new line is expected to start operations in mid 2011. With this increase in production capacity, the number of JGZ employees will reach about 700. Through the creation of local employment, JGZ and JATCO will further contribute to the development of economy in Guangzhou as well as in China.

Since started manufacturing belt CVTs in 1997, JATCO has maintained its leading position in the industry through consistent efforts to cultivate and develop global markets, through commercializing world-first technologies. Currently JATCO is the only manufacturer that has a full lineup of CVTs from mini-vehicles to 3.5 liter class vehicles. In 2008, JATCO recorded the largest share in the global CVT production at 43%.

    JGZ corporate information

Location	Science City, Guangzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Site area	Approx. 150,000�u
Building area	Current	Approx. 13,000�u
	After expansion	Approx. 40,000�u
Production capacity	Current	Approx. 140,000 units/year
	After expansion	Approx. 380,000 units/year
Number of employees	270 (as of November, 2009)

Note: Amounts in RMB are calculated for the convenience of the reader at the exchange rate of 13.19 yen per RMB 1 as of November 1, 2009.