Full steam ahead: A Quarter-Century Journey

Don't be fooled! No locomotives, shovels, or coal... 

Although the way Mr. & Mrs. Macho have been powering through since '99, it's safe to say they're running a damn well-oiled train. Some of the best racing car gearboxes in the world are made in Moravia, specifically in Chropyně, where a company stands on the foundations of relentless dedication and a clear vision. A company whose lineage spans more than two decades of hard work and sacrifice. X Shift Gearboxes is not only the result of this but also a globally recognized synonym for quality and precision.

The owner and managing director, František Macho, is a man brimming with energy and the embodiment of the word "drive." Drive is undoubtedly associated with moving forward. And when you're in drive, there's simply no room for reverse. František Macho's entrepreneurial story is so captivating and inspiring that any questions seem like a distraction. So let us hear from František Macho, the owner of X Shift Gearboxes.

"At the age of thirteen, I was already assembling a motorcycle. Since then, the world of engines has become my lifelong passion. My parents had their jobs and knew nothing about this field, but I was clear. Since high school, I've been involved in engineering, technology, and programming. I built motorcycles, made parts for bicycles - shafts, axles, gears, or cranks - because under the former regime, you couldn't buy them, and I think I learned a lot from that. Why gearboxes? The market at the time was empty in this regard. We made the first gearbox for Subaru, sold it successfully, and with the satisfaction of our first customer, it all began. Today, our sales reach over a hundred countries worldwide.

We've been manufacturing gearboxes since 1999. Initially, production was mostly in cooperation because we didn't have a single machine. Contracted manufacturers supplied us with components, and we assembled the gearboxes. A few years later, we bought our first machines and enthusiastically began producing some parts ourselves. We fully realized that as demand increased, there would be much more pressure on production, so our efforts focused on self-sufficiency and flexibility. Since then, we have regularly acquired new production technology, and today we manufacture 70% of our parts in-house. We are fully equipped not only with devices for measuring and checking individual gearbox parts but also with incredible support from our experienced developers, who always have an ace up their sleeve for even the most demanding motorsport clients.

It's a specialization understood by only a handful of people. Try finding a designer who can calculate gear teeth so that they are not noisy, prone to failure, or break. There might only be a few such people in our country. We use software from the best company in the world, KiSSsoft from Switzerland, just like the F1 designers do, to calculate gears. We've invested several million in software, and the fact is, without quality software, you can't produce anything today. It's no wonder our gearboxes run like Swiss watches. Just like Swiss watches, you can't produce a gearbox with a snap of your fingers. The first step is a 3D scan, which gives you the basic shape of the gearbox. The next step is to ignite the neurons of our talented designers, who haven't had the word "can't" in their vocabulary since birth. For example, designing a racing gearbox for the Toyota GR Yaris took seven months, and we completed it in a year and a half. Even when we have a gearbox ready, optimizations of axial distances, tooth counts, and other parameters are made depending on the discipline, power, acceleration - we have to consider many variables. Even the same types of cars with the same engine can have different performance. It's certainly not simple, but it's in the hands of the best of the best.

 We make gearboxes for Subaru, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, and are preparing more to meet globally growing demand. We monitor the market and know which gearboxes sell, which could satisfy developing trends, or which have shortcomings. In cases of those shortcomings, which can happen even to the best manufacturers, we can diagnose why gearboxes break, and we can make better ones. I've always encouraged the guys to make a gearbox. 'Will someone buy it?' they asked. 'If they don't see it, they definitely won't,' I told them. We made it, showcased it at an exhibition, and then sold it. Great and clean work! We regularly attend trade shows, and for instance, in Cologne, a local magazine wrote that we made the first racing gearbox in the world for the Toyota GR Yaris. That really pleased me.

In 1999, we started with a few gearboxes, and since then, we've only been growing. From just a couple, our team now numbers twenty-two professionals. The biggest leap paradoxically happened during COVID, when we saw a 30% increase in sales. We exported the vast majority of gearboxes abroad, selling about 1% of the total production in our country. Currently, we are manufacturing hypoid gears for Toyota, which gives us global exclusivity. None of our competitors can offer this product. Simply put - everyone else's breaks. We, on the other hand, know how to do it thanks to a quarter of a century of experience! We maintain a huge inventory, but the company's expansion is so large that we need to increase our stock further to satisfy customers around the world.

 Our global dealer network is woven from more than forty partners. We strive to combine direct sales, which ensures higher profitability, with sales through our dealers, who significantly contribute to advertising and brand visibility.

 I've never been shy about investing. The amount of investment would be so significant that one might ask why not invest in oneself? That's simply not my mindset. Personally, I'm satisfied. You could say I have everything. A big thank you goes to my wife, who fully supports me and also manages the company's finances. I wouldn't dare forget our children, who bring us immense joy. Last but not least is our growing team, which is part of the solid pillars of the entire company. The cherry on top for me is seeing the company thrive, knowing we have a strong global position. We are expanding, we've completed the Research and Development centre, and we're considering building a new hall. After successfully releasing product videos, we'll dive into further promotion, filming new product videos, and videos from the workshops and administrative parts, so the world sees we're not just ordinary garage mechanics! I firmly believe we'll move forward again. One must think optimistically. I find it hard to tolerate the word 'maybe.' 'Maybe it will work' - what does that even mean? Either it works, or it doesn't. Such a word simply doesn't belong in business. Development cannot be stopped. Why? Because if you stop, others will overtake you.

 You must always go full steam ahead!"

X Shift Gearboxes Team