American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AAM), a global automotive supplier of driveline and metal-forming technologies, and Suzhou Inovance Automotive Ltd. (Inovance Automotive), a provider of automotive power electronics and powertrain systems in China, formed a technology development agreement that will accelerate the development and delivery of scalable, next-generation 3-in-1 electric drive systems, which integrate an inverter, electric motor and gearbox. The collaboration will seek to enhance the power density, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of electric drive technology offered in the global market.

“The global electric drive market continues to expand as increasingly stringent emissions regulations require innovative propulsion system solutions,” said David C. Dauch, AAM chairman and CEO. “Our cooperation with Inovance Automotive will add an exciting new offering to AAM’s fast-growing portfolio of scalable 3-in-1 electric drive systems and accelerate our ability to bring new cost-competitive technologies to market."

AAM and Inovance are launching 3-in-1 electric drive units supporting four customer programs from AAM’s Changshu Manufacturing Complex beginning with the first 135-kW model for a Chinese OEM in the first quarter of 2021. The partnership between AAM and Inovance Automotive will strengthen both companies’ positions as leading providers of electric-propulsion technology in China and global automotive markets.