Japanese auto parts maker Aisin may not be a household name in India, but its contribution to some of the most popular cars in our market cannot be understated. The company, which has a production facility in Haryana and is set to expand manufacturing in India with a new Maharashtra plant, supplies a variety of powertrain components to many carmakers, from the locally-produced eAxle for the Maruti e Vitara (jointly developed by BluE Nexus, Aisin, and Denso) to automatic gearbox units for many brands.
Aisin’s now ubiquitous TF-60SN 6-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox – the VW Group calls it AQ250 – is used in 22 cars across 7 carmakers. Prior to BS6 norms coming into effect in 2020, Fiat’s 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine was colloquially known as India’s national engine as it saw duty in 24 cars across 5 brands. Considering Aisin’s TF-60SN transmission is nearly as widely used, it may deserve the moniker of India’s national gearbox, despite not being made in the country.
Cars that use the Aisin TF-60SN gearbox
Maruti, Toyota, Skoda-Volkswagen, Citroen, Mahindra and Tata cars use the TF-60SN gearbox.
*Powertrain expected to be same as outgoing Mahindra XUV700.
^Prices in Rs, lakh; ex-showroom, India.
The Mahindra XUV500 was among the first cars in India to use the TF-60SN transmission when the SUV got an automatic version in November 2025. And about 10 years later, the gearbox is the most popular automatic across India’s mass market segments. In fact, it has become as ubiquitous as ZF’s 8-speed torque convertor automatic (named 8HP), which is now seen on a wide selection of luxury cars from Mercedes, BMW and JLR.
Pros of the Aisin TF-60SN gearbox
It is known to be flexible, reliable, compact and light weight.
What has helped the Aisin transmission’s widespread usage is the flexibility that it can be paired with a wide variety of transversely-mounted engine options – from naturally aspirated petrols and small capacity direct-injection turbo-petrols to medium capacity diesel units – while managing torque outputs up to 380Nm. Sending power primarily to the front wheels – it has AWD applications in the Grand Vitara, Victoris, and Hyryder and even in diesel models like the XUV700 – the TF-60SN transmission is also known to be reliable, and its relatively compact design and light weight ensure it doesn’t take up too much space or add to the tonnage. Another advantage of this 6-speed unit is that it helps to compensate for the relative lack of power in the likes of the Toyota Rumion and Maruti Brezza.
Future of the Aisin TF-60SN gearbox
Aisin’s newer 8-speed torque convertor automatic to replace the TF-60SN
Today, the TF-60SN automatic gearbox is in its heyday. However, its replacement is already scheduled to roll out sometime next year Called the AQ300, this 8-speed torque convertor is expected to first see duty in the facelifts for the Skoda Kushaq, Slavia, Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus, and will be vital in helping those brands meet CAFE III emission norms, coming into effect in 2027.
Thanks to closer-ratio steps between gears in this new 8-speed gearbox – called TG-80LS or AWF8G30 by Aisin, depending on the application – compared to the 6-speed unit, transitions are smoother and there’s less fuel wasted during acceleration and deceleration. In standardised drive cycles (like India’s MIDC or Europe’s WLTP), this can reduce the load on the engine and improve overall fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
In addition, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is looking to localise production of the 8-speed automatic gearbox and to make for a better business case, the company is inviting other carmakers to adopt it as well. This should help keep costs of the gearbox in check, especially compared to the TF-60SN, which is not made in India.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Saumil Shah
Rishaad Mody
Shapur Kotwal
