Investor Story

   

RSS FEEDS

News Releases
Calendar Events
SEC Filings

Published on October 21, 2024

Milestone Moments: AAM Opens Its Advanced Technology Development Center

 

In 2014, AAM’s Chairman & CEO, David Dauch, unveiled plans to repurpose Plant 2 of AAM’s then manufacturing site into the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC). This transformation represented a major investment in both the facility and AAM’s future innovation strategy. By refurbishing the existing plant, AAM established ATDC as a hub for advanced automotive technology development, supporting AAM’s commitment to Delivering POWER. Opened in 2016 across the street from AAM’s World Headquarters (WHQ), ATDC serves as a nucleus for creativity and innovation. The facility is a focal point for developing future product, process and system technology. ATDC is designed to streamline AAM’s operations and bring together key functions under one roof. This consolidation enhances collaboration and allows for faster innovation across many different departments: advanced engineering and manufacturing, gear development, next-generation prototype builds, warranty analysis, competitive assessment and more.

ATDC plays a central role in AAM’s continued success in product launches and technological advancements. It’s equipped for technology benchmarking, prototype development, advanced technology initiatives, supplier collaboration and customer showcasing that will help accelerate AAM into the future of the industry.

Connected to ATDC is AAM's Competitive Analysis, Product and Experience Center (CAPEC). The CAPEC plays a crucial role in benchmarking and competitive assessments by housing AAM’s most current teardowns, which include both AAM and competitor electric motor and internal combustion engine components. This area showcases AAM's innovative technologies and serves as a hub for customer technology showcase events, internal training sessions, workshops, ride-and-drive events and other gatherings.

Inside CAPEC, visitors can experience AAM’s Electric Drive Technology through a driving simulator that allows them to feel the performance and efficiency of AAM’s electrified technologies in a real-world simulation. A platform configurator slider lets users build customized electrified platforms using AAM’s products, complete with performance statistics like peak power and 0-60 mph timing. An interactive component display table brings AAM’s products to life, showcasing key features and benefits and highlighting the global manufacturing footprint of each component.

In addition to ATDC, AAM's global presence is strengthened by other facilities, including its Europe Headquarters & Engineering Center (EHEC) and Asia Headquarters & Engineering Center (AHC). EHEC, where excellence drives every area of this world-class facility, includes technical, engineering, and sales services, accelerating our industry-leading technology through innovative on-site development, design and test capabilities.

Located in one of the leading business regions in Asia, AHC serves as the AAM’s regional headquarters, providing engineering, purchasing and sales services tailored to meet the needs of a growing base of Chinese automobile manufacturers.

As we reflect on AAM's 30-year journey, ATDC stands as a testament to our commitment to innovation and Bringing the Future Faster. Learn more about ATDC and other key facilities here.

AAM Milestone Moments is a monthly series celebrating and reflecting on key achievements in AAM’s 30-year history. Ranging from watershed innovations and technological advances to foundational programs and community initiatives that are part of AAM’s DNA, these AAM Milestone Moments will each tell an important piece of the AAM story.

For more information:

INVESTOR RELATIONS

David Lim

Head of Investor Relations

+1 (313) 758 2006

InvestorRelations@aam.com

MEDIA

Christopher Son

Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications

+1 (313) 758-4814

Contact
AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING

One Dauch Drive
Detroit, MI 48211-1198

X
Forward-Looking Statement

On this website and elsewhere in attached materials, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance.  Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to trends and events that may affect our future financial position and operating results.  The terms such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project,” "target," and similar words or expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

  • reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), FCA US LLC (FCA), or other customers;
  • reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and FCA);
  • our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand;
  • lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
  • our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures;
  • our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products;
  • our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions and joint ventures;
  • risks inherent in our international operations (including adverse changes in trade agreements, tariffs, immigration policies, political stability, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations, including those resulting from the recent United States presidential election and the United Kingdom's vote to exit the European Union);
  • negative or unexpected tax consequences;
  • liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers;
  • our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness;
  • supply shortages or price increases in raw materials, utilities or other operating supplies for us or our customers as a result of natural disasters or otherwise;
  • our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis;
  • our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog;
  • risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber attack and other similar disruptions;
  • global economic conditions;
  • our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages;
  • our suppliers', our customers' and their suppliers' ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages;
  • price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel;
  • our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us;
  • our ability to attract and retain key associates;
  • availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) or other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, as well as our ability to comply with financial covenants;
  • our customers' and suppliers' availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes;
  • changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations;
  • risks of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations or risks of environmental issues that could result in unforeseen costs at our facilities;
  • adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers' products (such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations);
  • our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act and other regulatory requirements and the potential costs of such compliance;  and
  • other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete.
It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.