CVTs Falling Out of Favor in North America

The continuously variable transmission may be losing steam in the North American automotive market, industry experts say.

Just a few years ago, many auto makers were touting CVTs as a way to cut fuel costs and provide customers with a quiet ride by eliminating bothersome shift points associated with traditional step transmissions.

CVTs incorporate two shafts for which the ratio of their rotational speeds can be varied continuously within a given range, providing an ...