Allison Transmission is an American manufacturer of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors including bus, refuse, fire, construction, distribution, military and specialty applications. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Allison Transmission has regional offices all over the world and manufacturing facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana, Chennai, India, and Szentgotthard, Hungary.
Allison began in 1909 when James A. Allison, along with three business partners, helped found and build the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1911, Allison’s new track held the first Indianapolis 500 mile race. In addition to funding several race teams, Jim Allison established his own racing team in 1915 and quickly gained a reputation for his work on race cars and automotive technology in general.
When World War I began, Allison suspended racing, and the Allison Experimental Company began machining parts, tools and masters for the Liberty airplane engine — the main power plant used in the US war effort. After the war, Allison entered a car in the 1919 Indy 500 and won. It was the last race Allison’s team ever entered as he turned his company’s attention to aviation engineering. The company’s expertise in aviation was the major factor in General Motors decision to buy the company following Jim Allison’s death in 1928.
Shortly after the sale to General Motors in 1929, Allison engineers began work on a 12-cylinder engine to replace the aging Liberty engines. The result was the V1710 12-cylinder aircraft engine and it made the company, now known as the Allison Engine Company, a major force in aviation.
Toward the end of World War II, General Motors formed Allison Transmission to put the engineers’ expertise to work in a new field — power transmissions for tracked military vehicles. The new division developed a transmission combining range change, steering and braking.
After WWII, Allison Transmission turned its attention to civilian transportation. Allison designed, developed and manufactured the first-ever automatic transmissions for heavy-duty vehicles including delivery trucks, city buses, and locomotives.
1949—Allison begins production of CD-850 tank transmission, division’s most historically significant transmissionDecember 1949—First rail car transmission is produced; installed in the Budd Rail CarOctober 1960—First Allison XT-1410-2 transmission is producedJune 1961—Allison announces MT Series transmissionsJuly 1962—Allison TT-2000 Hydro Powershift transmission is introducedMarch 1965—Introduction of dual path DP-8000, largest single-package Allison Powershift transmission to dateJuly 1966—Allison announces new DP-8960 for large off-highway trucksNovember 1966—Lithium-chlorine fuel cell is unveiledOctober 1967—First prototype of the Allison-equipped U.S. Army main battle tank is unveiled in Washington, D.C.February 1969—Allison introduces electric gearshift control system for off-highway vehiclesJuly 1969--Apollo 11 astronauts make man’s first landing on the moon; Allison propellant tanks are part of the descent stageSeptember 1970—Merge with Detroit Diesel Engine to form Detroit Diesel Allison Division, headquarters in DetroitJanuary 1971—Allison introduces first 4-speed automatic transmission for 72,000 lb (33,000 kg). GVW highway vehicles; Allison model HT-740April 1973—First fully automatic transmission for large trucks, scrapers and other types of heavy-duty off-highway vehicles is introduced; Allison model CLBT 7501974—First European office is establishedOctober 1982—A new generation heavy-duty automatic transmission, the Allison DP 8962, is announced; incorporates over 15 new technology internal changesMay 1983—GM sells Allison Gas Turbine Division; Allison becomes part of newly formed GM Power Products and Defense Operations GroupJune 1986—First X200 military transmission is releasedDecember 1987—Detroit Diesel Allison becomes Allison Transmission, Division of General MotorsFebruary 1991—Allison introduces electronically controlled World TransmissionsNovember 1995—Allison adopts lean manufacturing principles and begins implementing Allison Production System (APS), a cellular manufacturing system; some 10,000 machines and support equipment are re-arranged through all plants1999--Hybrid bus program is demonstrated for New York City Transit AuthorityJune 1999—Allison introduces 1000 Series and 2000 Series fully automatic transmissions2000--Hybrid electric program is launchedSeptember 2000—Test Track 2000 is first customer ride and drive simulating real-world operating conditions; held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FloridaJanuary 2001—Allison unveils first-of-its-kind parallel hybrid technologyNovember 2003—Allison's Ultimate Truck Driving Adventure takes ride and drive experience to extremes in the high desert of NevadaNovember 2003—Allison Vocational Models are released to better serve specific applicationsMay 2005--Shanghai Customization Center is openedJune 2007—GM announced that it was selling Allison Transmission to private equity firms The Carlyle Group and Onex Corporation, in a deal valued at $5.6 billion. The transaction closed on August 7, 2007.2008—Allison introduces on-board prognostics on model-year 2009 automatic transmissions2009—Allison took an approximately 10% stake in U.K.-based Torotrak2010-Manufacturing plant opened in Chennai, India also establishing regional headquarters with executive,marketing and sales officesJune 2010-Allison dedicates a new hybrid manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, Indiana.March 15, 2012 Initial public offering of 26.3 million shares of Allison Transmission stock at $23/share on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ALSN.October 27, 2013 Allison 10-speed TC10 transmission available for order at NavistarCurrent revenues were at $1.985 Billion a decrease from 2014. Allison V transmission—VH, VH2, VH4, VH5, VH6, VH7, VH9, VS1, VS2-6,VS2-8, V730, V731, VR731, VR731RHAllison MH marine reverse and reduction gearAllison AT transmission—AT540, AT542, AT543, AT545Allison MT transmission—MT640, MT643, MT644, MT647, MT648, MT650, MT653DR, MT654CR, MTB643, MTB644, MTB647, MTB648, MTB653DR, MTB654CR, MT30, MT41,MT42Allison HT transmission—HT740D, HT740RS, HT741, HT746, HT747, HT748, HTB748, HT750CRD, HT750DRD, HT754CRD, HT755CRD, HT755DRD, HTB755CRD, HTB755DRDAllison World Transmission—MD3060, MD3060P, MD3560, MD3560P, MD3066, MD3066P, HD4060, HD4060P, HD4560, HD4560PBus SeriesEmergency Vehicle SeriesHighway SeriesHybrid Bus SeriesMotorhome SeriesOil Field SeriesPupil Transport/Shuttle SeriesRugged Duty SeriesSpecialty SeriesTractor SeriesTruck RV SeriesMilitary Products1000 Series2000 Series3000 Series4000 SeriesTC10Torqmatic SeriesOff Highway Series (5000, 6000, 8000, and 9000)GM-Allison debuted the hybrid technology for transit buses in 2003. Through 2011, it intends to introduce 16 hybrid models.
In 2008, the number of GM-Allison hybrid buses are more than 2,700 units in 81 cities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. This includes:
Translink (Vancouver)Dresden, GermanyKing County Metro Transit AuthorityMassachusetts Bay Transportation AuthorityMinneapolis-Saint Paul Metro TransitRegional Transportation Commission of Southern NevadaSoutheastern Pennsylvania Transportation AuthorityWashington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityRegional Transportation District Denver, COMaryland Transit AdministrationIndianapolis Public Transportation CorporationChicago Transit Authority
