American Axle
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Richard E. "Dick" Dauch, James W. McLernon, Raymond Park, Morton E. Harris |
| Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Driveline and drivetrain components and systems (axles, drive shafts, front axle assemblies, universal joints, sealing solutions, thermal management systems) |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. (AAM), with its main office located in Detroit, Michigan, stands as a prominent U.S. producer of driveline and drivetrain components and systems for the automotive industry.
History
Founded in 1994, AAM originated when a private investment group, led by Richard E. "Dick" Dauch, James W. McLernon, Raymond Park, and Morton E. Harris, purchased the Final Drive and Forge Business Unit from General Motors' Saginaw Division. The company became publicly traded in 1999 under the ticker "AXL" on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Since its inception, AAM has grown internationally, delivering products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) serving passenger cars, light trucks, and commercial vehicles.
The company’s global headquarters, completed in 2004, is located along the boundary between Detroit and Hamtramck.
2008 strike
The labor strike at AAM in 2008 had a considerable effect on General Motors, resulting in a $2.6 billion loss due to production stoppages affecting models such as the Chevrolet Malibu and other vehicles.
Products
AAM's product lineup prominently features axles, drive shafts, front axle assemblies, universal joints, along with sealing solutions and thermal management systems.
Axles
Demolition
After ceasing operations at its Detroit manufacturing plants in 2012, American Axle began dismantling the production facility. By late 2013, a significant portion of the complex had been demolished. In February 2014, the Detroit/Hamtramck property was sold to Industrial Realty Group (IRG LLC), a California-based firm specializing in converting industrial sites into residential developments such as apartments. AAM maintained possession of its headquarters building and adjacent greenbelt area at the location, intending to convert the remaining original structure into an engineering center.
UK subsidiary
Albion Automotive, headquartered in Glasgow, serves as a vital UK-based subsidiary of AAM.
In 2002, the Court of Appeal decided in Albion Automotive Ltd v Walker & Ors that an implied entitlement to enhanced redundancy payments existed within employee contracts at Albion’s Farington facility due to established company customs and practices.