an input member; and

a primary shifting portion having a plurality of operating positions and including an output member,

a plurality of planetary gear sets,

a plurality of clutches, and

a plurality of brakes, the plurality of planetary gear sets having a plurality of rotary elements which include an output rotary element connected to said output member and which are connected to each other such that the rotary elements are rotated relative to each other in predetermined relationships with each other, the automatic transmission having a first input path for transmitting a rotary motion of said input member at a predetermined first speed ratio, and a second input path for transmitting the rotary motion of the input member at a predetermined second speed ratio higher than the first speed ratio, such that a speed of the rotary motion received from the input member is lowered during transmission of the rotary motion through the second input path, the clutches being selectively engaged to connect selected ones of the rotary elements to the first or second input path, and the brakes being selectively engaged to hold selected ones of the rotary elements in a stationary state, so that a selected one of the operating positions is established by controlling engaging and releasing actions of the clutches and brakes, whereby the rotary motion of the output rotary element connected to the output member is transmitted from the primary shifting portion through the output member,

said primary shifting portion including at least four rotary elements including a first input rotary element and a second input rotary element, said plurality of clutches including a first input clutch for selectively connecting said first input rotary element to said second input path, and a second input clutch for selectively connecting said second input rotary element to said second input path;

said primary shifting portion having a first group of successive operating positions for outputting a rotary motion a speed of which is lower than a speed of the rotary motion received from the first input path, the successive operating positions of said first group being established with said first input rotary element being connected to said second input path by an engaging action of said first input clutch and a releasing action of said second input clutch, and by controlling engaging and releasing actions of the other of said plurality of clutches and said plurality of brakes;

said primary shifting portion having a second group of successive operating positions for outputting a rotary motion a speed of which is lower than the speed of the rotary motion received from the first input path, the successive operating positions of said second group being established with said second input rotary element being connected to said second input path by an engaging action of said second input clutch and a releasing action of said first input clutch, and by controlling engaging and releasing actions of the other of said plurality of clutches and said plurality of brakes, the successive operating positions of said second group having respective speed ratios different from those of the successive operating positions of said first group; and

the automatic transmission being shiftable to a selected one of the successive operating positions of a selected one of said first and second groups.