SAE International Honors AVL's Fischer with Innovation Award

PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 22, 2015 -- AVL North America, Inc. (AVL) announced today that one of the AVL Group Executive Vice Presidents, Robert Fischer, has been honored with the prestigious SAE/Timken-Howard Simpson Automotive Transmission and Driveline Innovation Award.

The award, established in 2007 and funded through an endowment from the Timken Company, recognizes an engineer from the automotive industry for outstanding contributions to the technology, progress and dissemination in the area of automotive transmission and driveline.

Fischer explained that it was only possible to provide services that are worthy of such a high award with the appropriate corporate culture. Further explained by Fischer: "It is thanks to the strategic orientation of CEO Helmut List that AVL has succeeded in extending the expertise and experience in terms of transmission, and in terms of strengthening electrification and software to position AVL overall as a leader for propulsion systems."

AVL Americas Chairman Don Manvel also applauded Fischer for his achievement.

"The fact that Dr. Fischer is being honored for his breakthrough work in the industry is no surprise to us," said Manvel. "He is an outstanding and innovative engineer, mentor and role model for the men and women of AVL."

To qualify for the award, a nominee must be an SAE International member or involved with SAE International activities, and have demonstrated significant contribution to the advancement of transmission and driveline technology.

In the spirit of "paying it forward," Fischer is donating his honorarium to his alma mater, the Technology University of Graz, and their international program supporting students going abroad to further their studies.