Manufacturing Partner

RNS Number:0404R
Antonov PLC
08 September 2005



Antonov plc announces the selection of Neue ZWL as manufacturing partner for its
innovative supercharger drive technology


Antonov plc, the automotive technology company, is pleased to announce the
selection of Neue ZWL Zahnradwerk as its production supply partner to
manufacture the Antonov Mechanical Module supercharger drive. This follows the
announcement in May of the launch of the product into the buoyant US tuner
market prior to Antonov's ultimate objective of introducing it into the
mainstream automotive market. Pilot production work is underway to enable final
sign-off of the product and deliveries to US distributors will start in October.

Neue ZWL, located near Leipzig, has a history of 100 years in the manufacture of
transmissions and gearbox components. Clients include world leading Tier 1
transmission producers in addition to a range of other automotive and other
industry clients. The company is already a licensee of Antonov technology and
demonstrated its commitment to this project against keen competition from a
range of potential suppliers.

The supercharger drive is based on Antonov's patented technology. The miniature
transmission is a small stand-alone self-controlling multi-speed drive unit,
which can be configured in 2, 3 or 4 speed modules and applied to a wide range
of power transmission applications.

The unit enables the supercharger to be better matched to the engine. By driving
the supercharger faster at low engine speeds, higher boost ratio can be obtained
to provide additional low speed engine torque. As engine speed rises the unit
automatically changes up to enable the supercharger to continue to operate
effectively at higher engine speeds.

This is the first application of Antonov technology to enter production and will
be marketed in conjunction with Rotrex superchargers through a number of
specialist distributors in the US and Europe. Sales are expected to be in the
region of 4,000 units in the first year and production can be extended as demand
grows.

Antonov will manage the manufacture and supply of the initial series production
(up to annual volumes of around 10,000 units) but expects to licence the
technology to high volume clients either directly or through their Tier 1
suppliers.


John Moore, CEO Antonov plc, commented:

"The selection of Neue ZWL gives us a world class supplier who are already well
established as a top quality automotive supplier. Their commitment to the
product is an endorsement of the potential of the Antonov Mechanical Module in
the automotive market.

"Our strategy will enable the system to be released into the mainstream
automotive marketplace as a proven technology and underpins our ongoing
discussions with OEM vehicle manufacturers interested in high volume
applications."

Dr Hubertus Bartsch, Managing Director of Neue ZWL, commented:

"We are delighted to be selected as the production partner for this innovative
product and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with Antonov."


Antonov will be at the Frankfurt Show in Hall 6, stand B03 and will have this
and other technologies on display.


For further information:

John Moore (CEO) Tel: 00 44 (0)1223 421 740
Antonov plc

Richard Evans Tel: 00 44 (0)161 214 5547
Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd

Shane Dolan, Biddicks (financial media) Tel: 00 44 (0)20 7448 1000

Rob Palmer, Palmer PR (automotive media) Tel: 00 44 (0)1582 763 255






This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END
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Great Wall Motors are looking at Antonov transmissions, but I have read that GWM doesn't actually make gearboxes. They are too small a manufacturer. They buy their transmissions in Shanghai.

So I guess GWM are going get Antonov transmissions from Shaghai Automotive Gearworks. If so, that means the Antonov SAIC cooperation on transmissions is healthy. Plans to sell on the transmissions (to other OEMs, eg GWM) wouldn't progress unless SAIC were confident they would actually make the Antonov transmissions.

Well, I was wrong it seems.
Great Wall has a project for 1-2 litre vehicles which are being developed for sale from 2007 onwards. Small vehicles need small transmissions and that isn't easy as space is required in the car's width for two wheels, suspension, CV joints, transmission and engine. For Europe that drives manuals, no problem. For the US that doesn't have small cars, no problem. For China that will need small cars and that has a preference for automatics, a small automatic is required. Antonov to the rescue!
There is also overproduction in China, so the government is putting the brakes on the smaller companies that won't be able to develop export models with Chinese Intellectual property. That means Antonov's partners (SAIC, Nanjing, Geat Wall Motors) stand to benefit.

See the RNS.

http://www.circletrack.com/eventcoverage/hrpt_quantum_pitt_test/index.html

ANTONOV 'AR500' MUSTANG

This Mustang is a must see for power enthusiasts. Using patented Antonov technology it has a helical planetary gear set to create a 1.36:1 step-up ratio in the first half of the RPM band during hard acceleration. A centrifugal clutch then disengages the step-up ratio at a predetermined speed. The unit is coupled to a Rotrex supercharger and nested in the valley. under a custom fabricated intake manifold by Wheel to Wheel, with Laminova tube intercooler system inside. Making this Mustangs agile are a Ford Racing suspension system and Baer brakes at all four corners. Adding some beauty to the brawn are a chin spoiler, duck tail spoiler, deck lid trim panel and a set of louvered C-pillar scoops from Classic Design Concepts. Adding to the appearance is a hood decal by North Channel Graphics and Planet Color accent paint by Sherwin Williams, both featuring unique crushed glass material.

Well, a bit overdue, but China now has its own high tech gearbox.
:-)