In an axial piston machine with variable displacement with tilted cylinder block, a distributor is coupled with the cylinder block, and a magnetostrictive position sensor has a magnet that is integral with the distributor and a sensor rod that is integral with a fixed body with which the distributor is coupled with the possibility of varying the tilt thereof. The sensor emits a signal that indicates the angular position of the distributor with respect to the fixed body to determine the actual displacement of the machine.