American Axle Rebrands as Dauch Corp Ahead of Dowlais Deal

American Axle & Manufacturing, a global Tier 1 automotive supplier, has formally changed its corporate name to Dauch Corporation as it prepares to complete its planned acquisition of Dowlais Group, owner of GKN Automotive. The name change became effective following an amendment filed on January 23 with the Delaware Secretary of State and marks a key milestone ahead of one of the most significant consolidation moves in the global automotive supply chain.

Beginning Feb. 5, 2026, the company’s common stock will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AXL and will trade under the new symbol DCH. The CUSIP number will remain unchanged, and existing stock certificates will continue to be valid. The company said no action is required from shareholders as a result of the name or ticker-symbol change.

The rebranding precedes the expected completion of American Axle’s acquisition of Dowlais Group, which is scheduled to close on Feb. 3, 2026, subject to final regulatory approvals. The transaction, announced in 2025 and valued at approximately US$1.4 billion, will create a combined entity with operations in more than 20 countries and a broad technology portfolio spanning internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicle architectures. Under the terms of the agreement, American Axle shareholders will hold 51% of the combined company, while Dowlais shareholders will own the remaining 49%. Executive leadership will remain based in Detroit and led by David C. Dauch.

“This is a transformational moment for our company and its stockholders and another visible milestone in our long-term strategy as we prepare for the planned acquisition of Dowlais Group and its subsidiaries,” said David C. Dauch, chairman and CEO, Dauch Corporation, in a statement. “The new corporate identity reflects clarity, confidence and a commitment to performance, as well as a responsibility to our stakeholders, a dedication to operational excellence and a willingness to take bold steps as we work to exceed today’s standards and capitalize on tomorrow’s potential.”

The company said a full rollout of the Dauch Corporation brand identity will begin following the completion of the Dowlais acquisition. Until then, operational continuity will be maintained across existing facilities, customer programs and supplier relationships. Dauch Corporation will continue to position itself as a Tier 1 supplier focused on driveline systems, metal forming and powertrain technologies for electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles, supported by a global manufacturing footprint of approximately 75 facilities across 15 countries.

Mexico is expected to remain a strategically important market for the newly named company, particularly in the state of Guanajuato, where both American Axle and GKN Automotive have established operations. American Axle has operated in Silao, within the FIPASI Industrial Park, for more than two decades. The Silao complex is among the company’s largest globally, producing approximately 45,000 complete axles per day, along with hundreds of thousands of driveline, chassis and forged components, primarily supplying customers such as General Motors. The site also houses an innovation and technical training center supporting manufacturing capabilities for internal combustion and hybrid vehicle applications.