Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. purchased Vantage Power and AxleTech’s electric vehicle (EV) systems division.
Allison Transmission has a more than 103-year history of leading technological advancements: from James Allison owning the winning racecar of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 1915 to building every transmission that is in the United States Army’s Abrams Battle Tank. Allison is building upon the legacy of those and other advancements with an electrification strategy that leverages and extends current electric hybrid technologies, develops new electrified propulsion solutions, and expands system and integration level capabilities in alternative propulsion. Both of these acquisitions align with Allison’s leading innovator position in propulsion technology, and will complement its existing capabilities to advance electrification adoption in commercial vehicles.
Vantage Power is an award-winning London-based technology company specializing in developing electrified propulsion and connected vehicle technologies for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. With particular focus on battery technology development, vehicle integration, and control systems, as well as vehicle connectivity and telemetry, Vantage Power technologies have been deployed in a wide range of applications including complete electric hybrid repower systems for buses to grid energy storage.
AxleTech is a technology company that designs, engineers, manufactures, sells, and services axles and integrated electrified axle solutions for on- and off-highway heavy-duty commercial vehicles. With industrial roots established in 1919, the company’s nearly 800 worldwide employees drive the company to develop advanced powertrain systems, axles, components, and aftermarket parts for global customers. The EV systems division is located at AxleTech’s headquarters in Troy, Michigan.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
