AVL

In 1948, in Graz, Austria, a team of engineers led by Professor Hans List founded Ingenieurbüro List (IBL). Their goal was to develop modern engines. With key funding from the Marshall Plan, the company, renamed AVL (Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List) in 1951, began its journey. Initially focused on diesel engines for trucks, their early work led to mass production by 1949. The company's trajectory shifted in the 1960s when it expanded into producing engine instrumentation and test systems. This dual focus on both creating engine technology and the tools to test it became a core part of their strategy. Throughout the 1970s, AVL's reputation grew with the development of fully automated test beds and innovations in soundproofing engines. A significant leadership transition occurred in 1979 when the founder's son, Helmut List, took over as CEO, a position he continues to hold. Under his guidance, AVL expanded into advanced simulation technologies in 1987 and later into electrification, ADAS, and software. Rather than going public via an IPO, AVL has remained a privately held company, today owned by List Capital & Consulting GmbH, which is controlled by foundations established by Helmut List. The company has grown through strategic acquisitions and a significant, ongoing investment in R&D, positioning itself as a key, though often invisible, technology partner to the global automotive industry.