CHICAGO — American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. says it has a backlog of new and incremental business launching from 2013 through 2015 that it values at $1.25 billion in future annual sales.

The backlog represents a 4-percent gain from the previous three-year backlog for 2012-14, the Detroit-based company said, ascribing the growth to American Axle’s exposure to global growth markets, an innovative product portfolio and a widening customer base.

Among the drivers of American Axle’s increased order backlog are its EcoTrac all-wheel-drive system, which will be featured on a major passenger car and crossover vehicle program beginning in 2013. More than 50 percent of the new backlog is for customers other than General Motors Co., indicating more diversified sales outlets encompassing Chrysler Group LLC, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., Jaguar Land Rover Plc, Nissan Motor Co., Tata Motors Ltd., Volvo Powertrain AB and others.

About two-thirds of American Axle’s updated backlog for the next three years is for passenger car, crossover vehicle and commercial vehicle programs. About 40 percent of the new business is for programs sourced outside of North America, supporting the drivetrain component maker’s expansion in the growing global markets of Brazil, China, India and Thailand.

"Our success in growing the new business backlog is supporting our ability to grow faster than the industry with an estimated compound annual growth rate of greater than 10 percent from 2012 through 2015," president and chief executive officer David C. Dauch said in a statement.

American Axle purchases a significant amount of steel bar, tubing, flat steel and cast aluminum products; manufacturing driveline and drivetrain systems and related components; chassis systems; and metal-formed products for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, passenger cars, crossover vehicles and commercial vehicles.