"DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., two of the world's largest automakers, today jointly announced a $720 million investment in their plants to build an all-new, fuel-saving, 6-speed front-wheel-drive automatic transmission. More than 1,100 jobs will be retained as a result.The transmission, initially announced in October 2002, will be jointly designed, engineered and tested by the automakers. It will be built separately at GM's Warren, Mich., transmission plant and Ford's Van Dyke, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Sharonville, Ohio, transmission plants.To manufacture the transmission, GM is investing $350 million and Ford is investing $370 million. The investments include new equipment, tooling and facilities upgrades at their respective plants. The new 6-speed is expected to offer up to 4% improvement in fuel economy over traditional 4-speed automatic transmissions available in today's front-wheel-drive cars. Production is scheduled to begin at both companies in 2006 for FWD and all-wheel-drive passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles.Ford's Van Dyke plant will build major components and assemble the transmission. Its Sharonville plant, the company's new center of excellence for gear machining, will manufacture the gears for Ford transmissions.GM's Warren plant will build major components and assemble GM 6-speeds. GM partnered with United Auto Workers leaders, the city of Warren and the state of Michigan to retain more than 500 jobs in Warren."This new transmission will be a great product, and we are looking forward to producing it at the Warren plant where management, union and employees are working to make it a success," says Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain. "The investment underscores GM's commitment to keep Michigan's auto industry and communities world class and strong."Ford partnered with UAW leaders and the cities of Sterling Heights and Sharonville, retaining up to 400 jobs at Van Dyke and 250 at Sharonville. "Six-speeds are the future," says Dave Szczupak, vice president, Ford Powertrain Operations. "They help to optimize power, smooth operation and fuel economy. This is why they are going to become more prevalent. Twenty-five years ago, the average American was driving a car with a 3-speed automatic, so this is a trend worth noting."Working together allows both companies to bring the transmission to market faster while cutting costs. Each company is responsible for integrating the transmission into its own vehicles. The powertrains will be distinct in feel and performance because the transmissions will be mated to different engines.GM's Warren plant was purchased in 1960 by GM, has more than two million square feet and employs almost 1,700. The plant builds 4-speed FWD automatics, transmission stampings and torque converters for GM cars and trucks.Ford's Van Dyke plant opened in 1968, has 2 million square feet and employs more than 1,900. The plant builds 4-speed FWD automatics for the Ford Focus, Taurus, Freestar and Mercury Sable. The company's Sharonville plant opened in 1958, has 2.4 million square feet and employs more than 2,200. Today, the Sharonville plant builds 5-speed and 4-speed automatics for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Jaguar rear-drive sedans and SUVs. In November, Ford announced a $155 million investment at the plant to produce gears for a new rear-drive 6-speed automatic to debut in 2005."