While planning out the routes I’d traverse to and from the Upper Peninsula (UP) Overland 2015 gathering in Michigan, I was determined to carve out a bit of time to visit with the folks at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) just outside of Detroit. Thankfully everything came together and Kyle Leeds, International Parts Representative, agreed to host my daughter Raegan and I on the front leg of our week-long trip.
Visiting the AEV facility off Ladd Road in Commerce Township, MI compares to visiting Disney World for children—I was giddy and Raegan was rolling her eyes. To provide some perspective, the Ladd Road facility is located in a modestly developed industrial park with dozens of buildings of similar size and color. Yet, as you approach, the extensively built, skittle colored Wranglers, Double Cab Brutes, and Dodge Rams parked around the facility, you are literally punched in the face with shock and awe.
After I composed myself, we quickly jumped into a tour with Kyle around the 80,000 sq foot facility. The building is essentially used as a swiss army knife for AEV-business operations, assembly, paint, storage, and shipping (to name a few). As we walked the floor, it’s impressive to see Wranglers in various states of tear down, build up, and final testing. With as many as 15 to 20 vehicle lifts/building areas, paint booths and an area dedicated to building the Double Cab Brute, its easy to see how AEV muscles through 4000-5000 vehicles annually to a dedicated clientele. Kyle did point out that parts production is handled at a nearby facility (40-50 miles away) , which offers AEV the luxury of quick turn around on parts orders for their customers.
Before wrapping up our tour, we had a chance to walk the surrounding parking lots full of about 100 or so vehicles waiting to be shipped to customers and dealerships around the globe. In the back of the lot, we were able to get an up-close and personal look at the SEMA Dodge Ram sitting on 40” tires. It was placed next to a standard AEV Wrangler on 35” tires, and the Ram towered over the Wrangler and simply looked like it could be a great platform for many in the overlanding community!
For the last few years of my career, I’ve worked for a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business that has enjoyed great success and phenomenal growth. The same can be said about AEV–business has been great and that’s required a nearly doubling in overall personnel size since the start of 2015 (50->100 employees). With my experience, I understand how hard it can be for a small business to grow and produce quality products—this visit to AEV qualified my investment in my AEV Wrangler and why so many other enthusiasts utilize their products in the field as well.
Its been about a month since our visit to AEV and I have to admit I’m still in awe of our time spent at the facility! My only regret is that Kyle and I didn’t engage in a more thorough conversation about some consumer feedback on various AEV products—both parties were running short on time that Monday morning. I’m looking forward to closely watching how AEV evolves with the next generation Wrangler!
[…] Setting off on Sunday morning, Rae and I targeted a destination of Ann Arbor, MI in order to visit American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) on Monday […]