umpGMDENs A A pc m bdd h f fh hl G B LSS n nl eme B3-FV-26-D Bevel-helical gearbox B3

Flender/Flender Gear Units/Bevel-helical gearbox B3

sions. The market for these types of transmissions is dependent upon US. Government orders of military vehicles. During the last 5 years, the .. market for military vehicle transmissions has fluctuated, showing no clear trend.1 Market Segments The demand for vehicle gears in the various market segments depends on trends in the end-use industries, which, in turn, are affected by number of factors. In the automotive industry, demand is determined largely by cost considerations and consumer preferences. Inflation, interest rates, and incentives such as rebates or low-cost financing are important. The influence of rebates and financing on sales was strong few years ago but has declined somewhat in recent years, as consumers began to take these offers for granted. combination of these factors resulted in an increase and then decline in the retail sales of cars; the growing popularity of light trucks is evidenced by the steady rise in the number of units sold, as its shown in the following tabulation: Trucks Year Cars Light Medium and heavy 1 . . . 1,3 4,0 2 1 1,0 4,6 2 1 .... 1,4 4,8 2 1 .... 1,2 4,9 2 1 .... 1,6 5,1 3 Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks move counter to trends in inflation and interest rates. The variation in medium- and heavy-duty truck sales can also be explained, in part, by the continuing realignment of the .. freight transportation industry, which was deregulated in the early 1s.1 Changes in consumers' preferences boosted the demand for 5-speed manual transmissions, trend that increased automakers' consumption of gears. The following tabulation shows the increasing popularity of 5-speed manual transmissions during 1-8 over 4-speed manual transmissions, measured in the number of units sold: Year 4-speed 5-speed 1 4 7 1 3 8 1 1 8 1 5 1,0 USITC staff tele Flender agent interview with official of Allison Div., General Motors Corp., Oct. 5, 1. ' 1 Ward' Automotive Yearbook, . 2. The .. market