AQ300 Gearbox Explained: Skoda Volkswagen’s Answer to India’s Demanding Roads

Skoda recently unveiled the facelifted Kushaq which is set to go on sale around March this year. Being a mid-cycle, most of the updates expectedly centred around the vehicle’s styling and features. However, the biggest update was the introduction of a new 8-speed automatic gearbox. This new torque converter unit replaces the older 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission currently on offer in multiple Skoda and Volkswagen models.

Better fuel efficiency

Internally called the AQ300, this new 8-speed gearbox has been developed specifically for developing markets like India. Given that fuel consumption is one of the top priorities for Indian car buyers, the new 8-speed AQ300 gearbox promises better fuel efficiency than the older 6-speed AQ250 automatic unit.

“With this gearbox, you will really have much better efficiency on the highway. You will reach a little bit better dynamics, acceleration through that split between gears. It's been from that point of view and somehow matches what we are believing in. With our suspension, with our engines, with our dynamics, how our cars have to be functional. And that's the reason why an 8-speed gearbox is really efficient,” said Jiri Dytrych, Head of Product Management, Škoda Auto.

Lower cost of ownership, carbon emissions

Not just better mileage, but this 8-speed gearbox promises to offer lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and CO₂ emissions. Dytrych stated that the new AQ300 gearbox can reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 4–5 grams and improve fuel efficiency by 0.4 L/100 km under comparable operating conditions. The shorter gear ratios decrease load and hence offer smoother and more responsive acceleration. 

Further, the distribution of load across multiple gears reduces individual stress on parts. This not only improves durability but also optimises efficiency in manufacturing. The other big reason for introduction of this 8-speed gearbox is the demanding nature of the Indian market, not just from the consumer point of view but the wide demography of the country — from big urban centres to rural areas and from plains to mountains. 

Dytrych noted that in bumper to bumper traffic of big Indian cities a vehicle needs to have stable torque which cannot be achieved by a dual-clutch setup. Similarly in hilly areas with inclines going up to 30 degrees, the clutch is in play most of the time in a manual gearbox which leads to excessive abrasion.

Also READ: Skoda Kodiaq RS to Launch This Year: All You Need to Know

More cost effective

In response to a question by Acko Drive, Dytrych confirmed that the cost difference between the 8-speed and 6-speed units remains at parity. In fact, the AQ300 may offer slightly better value due to scale effects and supplier negotiations. He noted that global production scale significantly improves the cost-effectiveness of the gearbox. Because the 8-speed unit will be used across multiple regions, economies of scale make it more cost-efficient than the AQ250, despite being a more advanced system.

Currently, Skoda is sourcing this 8-speed automatic gearbox from Aisin. Dytrych admitted that achieving a high scale production for this 8-speed torque converter unit is very challenging while sourcing it from Aisin due to the latter’s lack of flexibility. Hence, the Skoda Volkswagen Group hopes to diversify the supply chain for this gearbox by involving more local players in the future.

This 8-speed automatic transmission is paired only with the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine in the Kushaq. On being asked if this gearbox will make it to other Skoda Volkswagen cars, Dytrych didn’t provide a clear answer but sounded positive without giving out an expected timeline for the same.