5-Series Automatic's made by GM or ZF???

I thought that my '97 540i's AT was made by ZF. I saw an article in Consumer Reports that said it was made by GM??? That doesn't seem to make sense to me... If GM made the 5-speed auto, why haven't they offered it on any of their other vehicles? Obviously it would be a repackaged corvette tranny??


Does anyone know???

General Motors has an entire division devoted to making transmissions (Hydramatic). The BMW 5-Series was the first vehicle to get their new 5-speed automatic when they came out with it a few years ago. The transmission is all new and not related to the Corvette transmission. I believe it's offered in the Cadillac CTS now.