The latest auto race isn't on a track. It's under the car, unseen, in the transmission.
Ford Motor and General Motors, the two biggest of the Detroit 3, said today they will jointly develop nine- and 10-speed automatic transmissions, which could save fuel and improve performance, particularly with smaller engines. Developing a new transmission is a complex and expensive project — joint development could save each company hundreds of millions of dollars.
The automakers say their engineers already are at work, but don't say when to expect the gearboxes, which will share parts.
Source
USA Today