AVL (engineering company)

AVL, or Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List, is an Austrian-based automotive consulting firm as well as an independent research institute. It is the largest privately owned company for the development of powertrain systems with internal combustion engines (ICEs) as well as instrumentation and test systems and also produces electric powertrains.

Company history and accomplishments

AVL was founded by Professor Doctor Hans List in 1948, after he became an independent engineer. The company was primarily focused on diesel truck engines, and after great success, branched out in 1960 to include an engine instrumentation division.

In 1969, AVL developed a revolutionary test bed which allowed for comprehensive data acquisition and analysis.

Throughout the 1970s, AVL's diesel engine performance and data acquisition capabilities continued to improve, while its PUMA test bed software began to give the company an international reputation. The founder's son Helmut List became the management chairman in 1979. After more innovations and more success in the 1980s, AVL opened its AST (Advanced Simulation Technology) division in 1987.

Some of the AVL's special skills are widely known and available to the technically interested public. One is developing and improving 4-wheel-drive systems. Another is car sound design, for practically all car producers around the globe. This is...
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