Milestone Moments: AAM Launches Our Demonstration Vehicle Fleet

Published on June 13, 2024

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AAM has spent the last 30 years bringing ideas to life—transforming concepts and sketches into automotive innovations that are POWERing vehicles on roads all over the world. But before they hit the pavement (or trail, farm and everything in between!), our technicians and engineers extensively test them in extreme and real-world conditions as part of our fleet of demonstration vehicles.

We believe the best way to predict the future is to invent it, and for 30 years, #TeamAAM has been dedicated to demonstrating how we Deliver POWER. We apply this principle not only to the end products we deliver to our customers, but also to the next-generation prototype technologies we invent and refine. This commitment to Quality, Technology Leadership and Operational Excellence is why our Demonstration Fleet remains a vital part of our product portfolio.

It started in 1998, when AAM embarked on a journey to launch our first fleet of demonstration vehicles to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical application. Some aspects of technology can only be fully understood when experienced firsthand, and this concept birthed the idea of integrating prototype hardware into production vehicles, allowing AAM’s engineers to test ideas and uncover issues that traditional component testing and simulation alone couldn’t.

Over the years, the fleet has evolved from a few prototype cars to a lineup of 23 fully-interrated demonstration vehicles. From a QUANTUM-equipped Raptor and Compass to the EcoTrac-outfitted Equinox, and from stock showroom models to heavily modified electric pickup trucks, each vehicle in the AAM demonstration fleet represents a testament to AAM's commitment to quality, technology leadership and operational excellence.

The development and maintenance of the AAM demonstration fleet is collaborative, with contributions from many specialized teams across various disciplines at AAM—from software engineering to mechanical design. This ensures a comprehensive approach to vehicle innovation.

Today, these vehicles play a special role in showcasing AAM's technological advancements to customers, investors and industry professionals. Whether it's at globally recognized trade shows, experiential events for customers and investors or educational ride and drives for #TeamAAM, the fleet serves as a demonstration of AAM's capabilities, Including superior handling, efficiency and POWER.

The fleet also continues to serve as an important tool for intensive vehicle testing and validation. AAM engineers put these vehicles through extreme experiences to ensure that they can withstand the harshest environments. Through hot weather testing on treacherous mountain passes and winter trials in snow-and-ice-covered landscapes, the fleet is pushed to its limits to ensure unmatched quality and performance.

AAM’s demonstration vehicle fleet is not just a collection of vehicles but a symbol of innovation and determination. It represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and pursuit of excellence. And as AAM continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in the automotive industry, the fleet guides the way towards a future defined by technology, efficiency and performance. It’s part of how #TeamAAM is #BringingTheFutureFaster.

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. 

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