History + Heritage

Throughout our long history, Allison Transmission has been a leader in innovation, creativity and continually pushing toward new advances in technology. Our heritage, starting in 1915 with James Allison, has been strong and steady throughout the decades that we’ve been creating fully automatic transmissions.

We were there from the beginning, with the invention of the world’s first heavy-duty automatic transmission, and even now Allison is the premier designer, developer and manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems.

Our experience and longstanding history have made Allison the brand to trust. Read below to learn more about our history and heritage.

1872-1917
Origins Era

1917-1939
Flying Aces Era

1940-1945
World War II Era

1946-1969
Postwar Era

1970-1986
Detroit Era

1987-2008
Back to Indy Era

2009-2022
Era of Innovation

 

1872-1917: Origins Era

1917-1939: Flying Aces Era

1940-1945: World War II Era

1946-1969: Postwar Era

1970-1986: Detroit Era

1987-2008: Back to Indy Era

2009-2022: Era of Innovation