Browning

I. BACKGROUND

26 While Plaintiffs expect an automatic transmission to “start, accelerate, decelerate, and stop 27 erratically, causing numerous safety concerns.” FAC ¶ 9. In 2014, AHM began equipping select 1 vehicle models with a 9-speed “automatic” transmission designed to increase fuel economy. Id. ¶ 3. Plaintiffs allege that the improved fuel economy came at a “significant and undisclosed cost: rough and delayed shifting, loud noises during shifting, harsh engagement of gears, sudden, harsh 5 accelerations and decelerations, and sudden loss of power.” Id. 6 According to Plaintiffs, traditional automatic transmissions use a set of gears that provide a 7 given number of ratios. FAC ¶ 8. The transmission shifts between gears to provide the most 8 appropriate ratio for a given situation. Id. According to Plaintiffs, that normally means the 9 transmission will automatically shift into lower gears for starting, middle gears for acceleration and passing, and higher gears for more fuel-efficient cruising. Id. The ZF 9HP Automatic Transmission allegedly differs from traditional automatic transmissions in that it uses a 9.8 ratio 13 spread, as opposed to 6,…