AVL Focus - 75 Years Special Edition

THE AVL MOBILITY TREND MAGAZINE

In 1951, the company now known as “Anstalt für

Verbrennungs­kraftmaschinen List” (AVL for short) was for-

mally established in Graz. Supported by investment from the

Marshall Plan, the central test site was opened at Kleiststrasse

48 in 1952, boasting its own testbeds and a workshop. This

enabled AVL to take on more orders for engine development,

for example, for Jenbacher Werke, Steyr-Daimler-Puch, and

numerous foreign companies. The corporate headquarters are

still at this location today, alongside the head office for central

research and development tasks.

The 1950s

In 1955, AVL made the decision to develop engines for com-

mercial vehicles. Market analysis determined a need for small

diesel trucks with a load capacity of 800 to 1000 kg, and for

light equipment carriers for smaller agricultural enterprises.

AVL quickly came to an agreement with the steel industry in

Rottenmann to construct and manufacture diesel-powered

delivery vehicles. In 1958, AVL introduced the first four-stroke

diesel engines with direct injection for trucks equipped with

swirl ducts. These replaced the two-stroke engines and four-

stroke prechamber engines.

First expansion of AVL in 1952

Further expansion in 1958

75 YEARS AND BEYOND

8 | 9