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Fuji, Japan – JATCO Ltd announced, at Taipei Cycle Show 2025 on March 26, with regards to its under-development drive unit for electric-assist bicycles, that it would establish the framework needed to provide not only drive units, but total drive systems for electric-assist bicycles, from batteries and controllers to sensors and switches.

JATCO also announced both a next-generation model (GA45*) that aims to be smaller with higher output power, and a concept model (GA-X Concept*) that uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

With these models, JATCO will expand into business sectors involved with electric-assist bicycles.

Next-generation model (GA45)                    CVT concept model (GA-X Concept)

JATCO has made use of its electrified powertrain technologies and its over 50 years of gear technologies in the automotive field to develop a drive unit (GA30*) for electric-assist bicycles and begin preparations for its production. This 2-in-1 drive unit integrates a motor and a 3-speed transmission and is slated to be installed in electric-assist bicycles sold by HODAKA CORPORATION in FY2025.

Until now, JATCO had only planned to provide isolated drive units, but moving forward, to make it possible for us to propose total drive systems to business customers, it will become possible to guarantee our overall quality by tuning not only the hardware, from batteries and controllers to sensors and switches, but also the software to meet the individual needs of each bicycle manufacturer.

In addition, we are extending our business by expanding drive unit mounting locations and bicycle type options through the official announcements of the next-generation model (GA45) of the GA30 drive unit announced last year, and the CVT concept model (GA-X Concept).  

The next-generation model (GA45) is a successor to the GA30, aiming for smaller size with higher output power, and development is proceeding with the goal of commercialization in 2027. The GA-X Concept is a concept model that applies the CVT control technology that is a JATCO specialty, and by moving its mounting location to the center of the bicycle (where the pedals are) and allowing for greater torque, we expect it to be installed on bicycle types different from GA30 and GA45. We are filling out our product lineup step-by-step and will work to meet the needs of even more customers.

Lineup of drive units for electric-assist bicycles

*GA45, GA-X Concept, GA30 and are model numbers.

About JATCO Ltd
Headquartered in Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan, JATCO is a leading automotive transmission and electric vehicle powertrain manufacturer, specialized in the design, development, and manufacture of automatic transmissions and CVTs. In addition to plants in Japan, JATCO has production facilities in Mexico, China, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.