
<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24
                                                                    ----------
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The undersigned directors of Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc. (the
"Corporation"), hereby appoint John F. Fiedler, Laurene H. Horiszny and Gaspare
G. Ruggirello as their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power for
and on their behalf to execute, in their names and capacities as directors of
the Corporation, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
behalf of the Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any and
all Registration Statements (including any and all amendments or post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the senior note offering by the Corporation.

This Power of Attorney automatically ends upon the termination of
Mr. Fiedler's, Ms. Horiszny's and Mr. Ruggirello's service with
the Corporation.

In witness whereof, the undersigned have executed this Power of Attorney on this
23rd day of October, 1996.



/s/ John F. Fiedler                  /s/ Donald C. Trauscht
---------------------------          ---------------------------
John F. Fiedler                      Donald C. Trauscht


/s/ Alexis P. Michas                 /s/ Albert J. Fitzgibbons, III
---------------------------          ---------------------------
Alexis P. Michas                     Albert J. Fitzgibbons, III


/s/ Matthias B. Bowman               /s/ Paul E. Glaske
---------------------------          ---------------------------
Matthias B. Bowman                   Paul E. Glaske


/s/ Ivan W. Gorr                     /s/ James J. Kerley
---------------------------          ---------------------------
Ivan W. Gorr                         James J. Kerley
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                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


          The undersigned officer of Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc. (the
"Corporation"), hereby appoints John F. Fiedler, Laurene H. Horiszny and Gaspare
G. Ruggirello as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power for and
on his behalf to execute, in his name and capacity as an officer of the
Corporation, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf
of the Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any and all
Registration Statements (including any and all amendments or post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the senior note offering by the Corporation.

This Power of Attorney automatically ends upon the termination of
Mr. Fiedler's, Ms. Horiszny's and Mr. Ruggirello's service with
the Corporation.

In witness whereof, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney on this
23rd day of October, 1996.



/s/ Robin J. Adams
----------------------------
Robin J. Adams
Vice President and Treasurer
<PAGE>   3
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


          The undersigned officer of Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc. (the
"Corporation"), hereby appoints John F. Fiedler, Laurene H. Horiszny and Gaspare
G. Ruggirello as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power for and
on his behalf to execute, in his name and capacity as an officer of the
Corporation, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf
of the Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any and all
Registration Statements (including any and all amendments or post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the senior note offering by the Corporation.

This Power of Attorney automatically ends upon the termination of
Mr. Fiedler's, Ms. Horiszny's and Mr. Ruggirello's service with
the Corporation.

In witness whereof, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney on this
23rd day of October, 1996.




/s/ William C. Cline
----------------------------------
William C. Cline
Vice President and Controller
