Comments on: Mack launches mDrive automated manual transmission http://www.truckersnews.com/mack-launches-mdrive-automated-manual-transmission/ Truckers News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:51:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Kevin Scarbel http://www.truckersnews.com/mack-launches-mdrive-automated-manual-transmission/comment-page-1/#comment-906 Kevin Scarbel Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:43:11 +0000 http://www.truckersnews.com/?p=5526#comment-906 It's disappointing to see Mack, once legendary for its drivetrain engineering, deceptively announcing the Mack mDrive AMT as a new Mack product, when in fact it is none other than a Volvo i-Shift 12-speed AMT transmission. The fact is, Mack engineers wanted to design an AMT version of Mack's signature triple-countershaft Maxitorque ES 300 transmission, but Volvo said no. This decision continues a trend of Mack engineering being snubbed by Volvo Group. Mack trucks now use Volvo truck chassis and Volvo D11, D13 and D16 6-cylinder engines (renamed MP7, MP8 and MP10 respectively). With this latest development we can ask once again, is a truck with a Volvo engine, Volvo transmission and Volvo chassis still a Mack truck? Despite the remaining Mack unique cab and hood, it certainly is not. The "Mack truck" no longer exists. The Mack name is now merely a brand emblem on a U.S. Volvo heavy truck. Under Volvo ownership, Mack's market share continues to fall. When will Volvo realize how badly they have mishandled Mack Trucks, and under a drastically new direction allow Mack to prosper once more? http://www.macktrucks.com/default.aspx?pageid=4490 It’s disappointing to see Mack, once legendary for its drivetrain engineering, deceptively announcing the Mack mDrive AMT as a new Mack product, when in fact it is none other than a Volvo i-Shift 12-speed AMT transmission.

The fact is, Mack engineers wanted to design an AMT version of Mack’s signature triple-countershaft Maxitorque ES 300 transmission, but Volvo said no. This decision continues a trend of Mack engineering being snubbed by Volvo Group. Mack trucks now use Volvo truck chassis and Volvo D11, D13 and D16 6-cylinder engines (renamed MP7, MP8 and MP10 respectively).

With this latest development we can ask once again, is a truck with a Volvo engine, Volvo transmission and Volvo chassis still a Mack truck? Despite the remaining Mack unique cab and hood, it certainly is not. The “Mack truck” no longer exists. The Mack name is now merely a brand emblem on a U.S. Volvo heavy truck.

Under Volvo ownership, Mack’s market share continues to fall. When will Volvo realize how badly they have mishandled Mack Trucks, and under a drastically new direction allow Mack to prosper once more?

http://www.macktrucks.com/default.aspx?pageid=4490

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