PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 21, 2009 – AVL announces advanced alternative powertrain development centers in California and Michigan with Govs. Schwarzenegger and Granholm.
- New and expanded facilities strategically located in the two leading North American automotive technology hubs
- AVL California Technology Center, announced in 2008, currently in
operation - State-of-the-art AVL Battery, Hybrid, Electric and Alternative Fuel
Powertrain Development Center announced at Ann Arbor Technical Center
Together with Govs. Schwarzenegger and Granholm, Prof. Helmut List, chairman and CEO, AVL, today announced continued advancements in alternative powertrain capabilities, furthering its position as the market leader in sustainable mobility. Advancements include an expansion to the Ann Arbor Technical Center to create a Battery, Hybrid, Electric and Alternative Fuel Powertrain Development Center, helping to take Michigan “from rust to green,” and the operation of the AVL California Technology Center (CTC), dedicated to furthering environmentally conscious powertrain initiatives in southern California. AVL will invest $2.6 million in the Ann Arbor facility expansion, supported with pending state and local incentives, and will be operational by the third quarter of 2009.
“As a recognized leader of powertrain engineering, employing 4,500 people worldwide, 3,000 of which are scientists and engineers, AVL is dedicated to advancing the green technologies needed for the future of our planet,” said List, at the AVL booth at SAE 2009 World Congress. “With AVL’s California Technology Center officially open, we are equally excited to announce the expansion of our Ann Arbor Technical Center.”
Gov. Granholm discussed the importance of sustainable solutions for today’s automotive industry, and the role Michigan and AVL play in its success.
“It is a great privilege for us to celebrate together Michigan and California’s expansion with respect to AVL,” said Granholm. “We are so pleased AVL is located in Ann Arbor. AVL is doing great, ground-breaking work to advance green technology.”
Gov. Schwarzenegger further impressed the importance of the California–Michigan connection and expressed optimism toward the future of the green technology within the domestic automotive industry.
“Even though we see so many people unemployed, it is great in an industry like AVL’s that is dealing with research development and green technology where there are areas of growth,” said Schwarzenegger. “Too many times we turn on the television and there is only negative news, but there is positive news in the middle of all this and AVL is one of those positive news items.”
AVL is the world’s largest privately owned and independent company for the development of gasoline, diesel and alternative fuel powertrain systems, as well as fuel cell and hybrid technologies. The company offers combined solutions of powertrain engineering, simulation software and testing and instrumentation systems. AVL’s North American Headquarters is located in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Michigan. For more information, AVL can be found at www.avl.com.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090420/NY01729 Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/avl/37878
Source: AVL North America
CONTACT: Andrea Arnold of AVL Americas, +1-248-765-1264,
andrea.arnold@avl.com; or Jessica Howell of Eisbrenner PR, +1-248-641-1446,
jhowell@eisbrenner.com
