About AVL

Reimagining motion for a greener, safer, better world of mobility.
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AVL is one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies for development, simulation, and testing in the automotive industry, and in other sectors. Drawing on our pioneering spirit, we provide concepts, solutions, and methodologies for a greener, safer, and better world of mobility.

We constantly expand our portfolio of high-end methodologies and technologies in the areas of vehicle development and testing. With a holistic approach— from ideation phase to serial production—we cover vehicle architectures and platform solutions including the impact of new propulsion systems and energy carriers.

To achieve the vision of climate-neutral mobility, we drive innovative and affordable solutions for all applications—from traditional to hybrid to battery and fuel cell electric technologies.

As a global technology provider, our offerings range from simulation, virtualization, and test automation for product development to ADAS/AD and vehicle software. We combine state-of-the-art and highly scalable IT, software, and technology solutions with our application know-how, thereby offering customers extensive tools in areas such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and embedded systems.

Furthermore, we are striving towards a safe and comfortable driving experience for everyone and bring a comprehensive understanding of assisted and automated driving functions in different vehicles and environments into play.

Our  passion is innovation. Together with 11,200 employees at more than 90 locations and with 45 Tech and Engineering Centers worldwide, we are supporting customers in their mobility ambitions. In 2022, we generated a turnover of 1.86 billion Euros, of which 11 % are invested in R&D activities to ensure continuous innovation.

In everything we do, we are relentlessly striving towards climate-neutral mobility. 
Our values are the guiding force behind our daily work. They have shaped our corporate culture since the very beginning and are incorporated in all our business activities.

Pioneering spirit
 

Turning visions of the future into reality with courage and expertise. We have cultivated the ability to recognize important breakthrough targets early on and reach them ahead of the market. Only the courageous look beyond the horizon and make discoveries that lead to outstanding innovations.

Customer Orientation

 
Our success can only be measured by that of our customers. True understanding of a customer and their needs, combined with experience and a global view, allows us to create innovative solutions. Expertly conceived, uniquely tailored and efficiently carried out – a shared success.

AVL Brain
Problem-Solving Competence
 

It’s a demanding world. A focus on research, cutting-edge technological developments and clear product orientation are fundamental requirements for global competitiveness. With multi-disciplinary teams, we offer expertise, creativity, innovative thinking, and effective project management to support professional solutions.

Responsibility
 

Modern mobility represents progress only when its goal, its form and its requirements respect nature. Our work at AVL reflects a deep understanding of the responsibility we share for our society, for mankind and for the world’s achievements. We want to ensure that our world is one we can live in—now and in the future.

Independence
 

AVL is a company with personality. Embodied in Helmut List and reflected in our work. A personality rooted in a life-long pursuit of knowledge, characterized by a deep sense of responsibility, and expressed in the company’s independent status.

AVL Headquarters

As one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies for engineering, simulation, and testing, we constantly transform our portfolio of high-end methodologies and technologies to support our customers in achieving their mobility ambitions. From vehicle development and integration to e-mobility, automated and connected mobility (ADAS/AD) and software, we are driving innovation today, to build the mobility concepts of tomorrow.

With future-proven tools, products and systems augmented by our global network of experts and facilities, we support OEMs and Tier1s to shape current and future technologies for all applications.

Our passion is innovation. We foster our pioneering spirit by annually investing 11 % of our turnover into R&D activities, resulting in 2,200 Patents in force.

Helmut O. List

We are driven by a passion to examine the science, mechanics and philosophy of movement. To help create a world that is climate-neutral and one that makes safe, comfortable, green mobility a reality for everyone.

– Helmut O. List, Chairman and CEO, AVL List GmbH

We insist on the best possible quality standards for our customers. Therefore, we have implemented a Quality Management System which is ISO 9001 certified since 1992. Our high-quality standards are also reflected in the selection of suppliers.

Integrated Management Systems
Integrated Management Systems

We follow a proven, certified approach to quality, the environment, security, health and safety.

Supplier Hub
Supplier Hub

Get to know more about our purchasing activities, values and standards, as well as how to become a supplier.

AVL Leadership Team

Chaired by CEO Helmut List, our executive board directs the future path of AVL, driving strategic innovation, transformation, and development. Our leadership team guides and inspires our people and accelerates technological advancements with the goal to deliver the best solutions for our customers.

Innovation Starts With People

A career at AVL is full of possibilities. In our daily work we use all our imagination, creativity, and pioneering spirit to examine the science, mechanics, and philosophy of movement. Join our worldwide experts to shape the future of mobility together.
 

Our International Network

With 11,200 employees at more than 90 locations and with 45 tech and engineering centers worldwide, we work with our customers locally from project start to a long-term partnership.

CSR

It is our passion to contribute to the resolution of social, cultural, and global issues— especially with regards to environmental protection, sustainability and global emission reduction. This is made possible by our outstanding colleagues worldwide, transparent processes as well as our carefully selected partners. Additionally, we are aware of our responsibility towards society and support outstanding projects across art, science and beyond driven by our AVL Cultural Foundation.

1948 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
AVL History 1948

In 1948, a group of engine experts headed by Prof. Dr. Hans List joined forces in a joint venture and founded the Ingenierbüro List (IBL). The goal was to develop modern engines, based on the latest findings obtained from fundamental research, whilst at the same time taking into account the growing economic criteria within the industry. The first diesel engines were mass-produced at the Jenbacher Werke in Tirol and the Andritz Machine Works in Graz in 1949.

AVL History 1950

In 1951, IBL became AVL – Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List. In 1952, the Central research premises were established in Kleiststraße with funds from the Marshall Plan. This site remains the home of our group headquarters and the central research and development premises. One of the most important achievements came in 1958 with the development of the first direct-injection four-stroke diesel engines for trucks to be equipped with swirl ducts. These replaced the two-stroke engines and four-stroke prechamber engines, which had been the norm to this point.

AVL History 1960

In 1960 AVL expands its business by including the engine instrumentation systems. In 1963, the intensive development of diesel engine technology led to the construction of an 18-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engine generating 2,250 hp. As well as engine development, we also began to manufacture engine testing devices in the early 1960s, and started the series production of quartz pressure sensors, gravimetric fuel consumption measuring equipment, flue gas measuring devices, and complete engine combustion analysis systems. In 1969, the first fully-automatic digital testbed was installed at our headquarters.

AVL History 1970

At the start of the 1970s, the first fully-automatic AVL test beds went on sale. Other milestones achieved in this decade were the development of capsule technology to soundproof engines, as well as the development of DI diesel engines for passenger cars in 1974. Two years later, we presented the first prototype of a light diesel engine (LD). In 1979 Helmut List, who had been working for the company since 1966 and is the son of the company’s founder, took over as chairman of the board of management.

AVL History 1980

In 1982, we introduced a procedure that allowed real-time insights into the combustion processes of diesel engines. In 1985, we commissioned a highly-dynamic test bench, with which it was possible to test a real engine in a virtual car for the first time. In 1986, large-scale production began of the world’s first HSDI diesel engine (High Speed Direct Engine), developed by AVL, as a drive system for light commercial vehicles. In 1987 AVL launches its newest division, Advanced Simulation Technologies.
 

AVL History 1990

In the 1990s, we implemented tomographic combustion analysis (TCA). This made it possible to visually record combustion phenomena in production-based Otto engines. We also started dealing with the topic of electrification at an early stage and, in 1992, joined forces with a manufacturer to develop the testbed demonstrator for a full hybrid drive. This Universal Hybrid System (UHS) combined a combustion engine with two electric engines via a planetary gear. From 1993, we were the first company in the world to supply specific motorsport test beds, with which it was possible to simulate the dynamic requirements of racing engines (for example, Formula 1 and the Indy Series).

AVL History 2000

In 2002, we opened our test track in Gratkorn, near Graz. In the same year we took over the MTC AB engine test center in Sweden. In 2003, the Helmut List Hall in Graz opened as an event center for up to 2,400 visitors. Also in 2003, we took over the German engine developer Schrick. In 2007, we ramped up our internationalization with the acquisition of French drive system service provider Le Moteur Moderne. In 2008, the new subsidiary “AVL Software and Functions GmbH” was founded in Regensburg, Germany.

AVL History 2010

The “AVL Shanghai Tech Center” battery laboratory opened in 2010. This was followed in 2015 by a second technical center in China: the “AVL Tianjin Technical Center”. In 2014, we acquired a controlling stake in qpunkt, a company specializing in thermal management, fluid dynamics and acoustics. In 2016, we entered into a partnership with Greenlight Innovation Corp., one of the world’s leading providers of test and production facilities for hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries and energy storage systems. In 2017, we and TU Graz commissioned a joint competence center for the research and development of innovative transmission systems. Further facilities followed in the form of the ADAS battery test lab in Graz in 2018. In the same year we founded AVL Fuel Cell Canada Inc. (“AVL FCC”), a global center of excellence for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks, with headquarter in Vancouver, Canada. In 2019, AVL offered its comprehensive know-how in new technologies to the maritime business and opens its very first AVL maritime office in Hamburg.

AVL History 2020

In 2021, the Battery Innovation Center opened in Graz: a competence center for innovative battery concepts, with which we support the automobile industry in its shift to e-mobility. 2022 was an exciting year: we officially opened our new Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Test Center, one of the largest and most advanced test sites for fuel cells and electrolysis systems in the world, in Graz. In parallel, the new Mobility and Sensor Test Center in Roding, Germany, has been established, which is a unique indoor laboratory for the verification and validation of sensors for driver assistance systems. Moreover, we established a unique engineering facility to test conventional and future vehicles in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. It is directly connected to the AVL ZalaZONE proving ground and provides an all-around solution to test ADAS/AD systems in a real-world environment. Furthermore, we opened our new office in San Sebastián in addition to existing three subsidiaries in Spain.

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