Product classification
HS code for Gearbox: 8708.40
Vehicle parts, gear boxes and parts thereof.
Classification of gearbox under HS 8708.40
The classification of gearboxes under HS code 8708.40 is specific to those used in motor vehicles. This code falls under Chapter 87, which covers vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof. Heading 8708 is dedicated to parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705, which include tractors, passenger motor cars, trucks, and special purpose motor vehicles. Subheading 8708.40 specifically identifies gear boxes and parts thereof. To qualify for this classification, the gearbox must be identifiable as being suitable for use solely or principally with the vehicles mentioned in the preceding headings. This is a crucial distinction from industrial gearboxes, which are classified in Chapter 84. The determination is often based on the design, torque capacity, and mounting configurations specific to automotive applications. Automotive gearboxes include manual transmissions, automatic transmissions, and semi-automatic systems. The classification also encompasses the internal components of these gearboxes when presented as parts, such as gear sets, shafts, and housings, provided they are specifically for vehicle gearboxes. If a gearbox is designed for a stationary industrial machine, it would be excluded from this code and instead classified under 8483.40.
- Covers
- Manual transmissions for passenger cars
- Automatic transmissions for trucks
- Transfer cases for four-wheel-drive vehicles
- Transaxles for front-wheel-drive cars
- Parts of vehicle gearboxes such as casings and shafts
- Also under 8708.40
- ZF Automatic Transmissions
- Aisin Manual Transmissions
- BorgWarner Dual-Clutch Modules
- Getrag Gearboxes
- Jatco CVT Units
Codes often confused with 8708.40
Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 8483.40. Code 8483.40 is for industrial gearboxes and speed changers. Importers often mistakenly use the automotive code 8708.40 for gearboxes intended for conveyor belts or industrial mixers. Another error is using 8708.99 (other parts of motor vehicles), but since gearboxes have a specific subheading (8708.40), that specific code must be used according to GRI 3(a).
Top exporters and importers of HS 870840 (the code used for gearbox), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 870840 (the code used for gearbox) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 24% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 16% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 870840, not only gearbox.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $16.2B 24% of world exports
- 2 Japan $11.4B 17% of world exports
- 3 United States $7.9B 12% of world exports
World total: $67.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $10.9B 16% of world imports
- 2 Mexico $6.8B 9.8% of world imports
- 3 Germany $6.7B 9.6% of world imports
World total: $69.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for gearbox
Brazil splits HS 8708.40 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8708.40.11Tractor/dumper servo gearboxes, 750 Nm or more
- 8708.40.19Other gearboxes for tractors and dumpers
- 8708.40.80Gearboxes for cars, trucks and other vehicles
- 8708.40.90Parts of motor vehicle gearboxes
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about gearbox
What is the HS code for Gearbox?
The HS code for Gearbox is 870840 (Vehicle parts; gear boxes and parts thereof). For motor vehicles (cars, trucks, tractors), the HS code is 8708.40. For industrial machinery, the HS code is 8483.40.
How do I classify Gearbox for customs?
Gearbox is classified under HS code 870840 — Vehicle parts; gear boxes and parts thereof. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does 8708.40 include parts of the gearbox?
Yes, subheading 8708.40 covers both the complete gear boxes and their constituent parts, provided they are for motor vehicles.
Which countries are the top exporters of gearbox (HS 870840)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 870840 (the code used for gearbox) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($16.2B, 24% of world exports), Japan ($11.4B) and the United States ($7.9B). World exports came to about $67.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of gearbox (HS 870840)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 870840 (the code used for gearbox) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($10.9B, 16% of world imports), Mexico ($6.8B) and Germany ($6.7B). World imports came to about $69.4B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Gearbox the same in all countries?
The base HS code 870840 for Gearbox is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for gearbox in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 870840 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for gearbox depends on the product's details: 8708.40.11 (Tractor/dumper servo gearboxes, 750 Nm or more), 8708.40.19 (Other gearboxes for tractors and dumpers), 8708.40.80 (Gearboxes for cars, trucks and other vehicles), 8708.40.90 (Parts of motor vehicle gearboxes).