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Fitch Upgrades Allison Transmission Outlook

Fitch Ratings, a rating agency, has upgraded its Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings of Allison transmissions to BB+ from BB.

This upgraded rating indicates that the outlook of Allison Transmissions is stable, as expectations for earnings and FCF (free cash flow) look to remain strong, even if profit margins do not rise back to pre-pandemic levels in the next several years. Allison Transmissions currently dominates the commercial vehicle automatic transmission business, and is currently investing in electric vehicle (EV) technologies.

Allison Transmissions continues to lead the commercial vehicle segment in North America, as a majority of class 6 and 7 commercial trucks, as well as class 8 straight trucks and school buses, continue to use its transmissions. However, outside of this market, Allison sees low, but growing usage in commercial vehicles.

Electric vehicles have no need for automatic transmissions, so Allison’s long term picture may look fragile. However, to combat this, Allison has been investing in EV propulsion systems for commercial vehicles, and has already been awarded a number of EV-related supply agreements with manufacturers of commercial vehicles, off-highway equipment and military vehicles.

As far as FCF goes, Allison has a proven track, and has posted positive numbers every year since going public in 2012, including the pandemic dark days. Despite a prediction for a slight drop in FCF margin due to inflationary measures, Finch expects FCF to grow for several years.

For GM fans of Allison transmissions, this is great news, as a positive outlook for Allison reflects a positive outlook for further use in GM products. Of course, it’s worth noting that Allison transmissions are now only used in Silverado Medium Duty (MD) trucks, while the current line-up of Silverado HD trucks use an Allison-branded 10-speed transmission. Despite the naming scheme, these two transmissions have nothing in relation to each other.

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As a typical Florida Man, Trey is a certified GM nutjob who's obsessed with anything and everything Corvette-related.

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Comments

  1. What do they mean by medium duty trucks?

    Reply
    1. Commercial grade trucks. Rock solid transmissions.

      Reply
  2. Class 5 and 6 , commercial service trucks mainly.

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    1. Allison transmissions are also in Chevy LCF 6500 and 7500 models. They will be in the 2024 LCF 5500 XG model as well.

      Reply
      1. 4500, 5500, 6500 series

        Reply
  3. My grandad retired from Allison Transmission Plant 3 back in the late 70’s. I got to go in their Powerama as a kid and see the Patton tank with an Allison transmission. Pretty cool stuff.

    Reply
  4. Rugged transmissions. Have one in my 2008 Sierra Denali. Never an issue over the last 15 years. Not even any weepage from gaskets or seals. Glad to see them diversifying into EVs.

    Reply
  5. I worked and retired from Allison Transmission, Indianapolis, Indiana, putting in 33 years. It was a great place to be employed at. I had the opportunity to help build almost every Transmission that they produce over the years. Almost everything in the Military that moves, moves with an Allison Transmission.

    Reply
  6. Still question why in 2022 they made a sealed transmission. No dipstick… didn’t even have the spin on filter. What were they rhinking?

    Reply

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