Daimler Trucks bringing new medium-duty engine line to Detroit production facility

Daimler Trucks announces a $375 million investment to enable production of the new DD5 and DD8 medium-duty engines at Detroit brand headquarters and manufacturing facility in Redford, MI.

Joined by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and nearly 2,000 UAW workers, Daimler Trucks celebrated the announcement of the new lines of DD5 and DD8 medium-duty engines and officially launched production of the company’s Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission. The theme of the day was “Built in Detroit,” and celebrated the long successful history of Detroit powertrain manufacturing at the Detroit brand headquarters.

“This is an exciting day for Daimler Trucks and Detroit. Our investment is a tangible example of how we maximize the use of our global platforms optimized for regional markets,” says Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Daimler AG Board of Management member responsible for Trucks and Buses. “'Built in Detroit' is not just a marketing slogan, it is our commitment to strengthen the industrial base in Detroit and to deliver the most fuel efficient engines to our customers. I am convinced: with our medium-duty engines we will repeat the success story of our best-selling heavy-duty engines.”

Governor Snyder said, “Michigan has long been the world’s automotive leader and we are proud that Daimler will continue to play a big role in our state’s reinvention moving forward. This is an investment in Detroit and the hardworking people of Michigan.”

The Detroit integrated powertrain – which includes Detroit Engines, Axles and the DT12 Transmission – is part of Daimler Trucks’ Global Excellence Strategy to have uniform production standards and processes worldwide, resulting in the most efficient, highest quality and lowest cost of ownership products in the industry.

The new Detroit DD5 and DD8 engine development is another example of Daimler’s international development effort, with global testing and validation being undertaken in both Europe and the United States, and series production in Europe since 2012.

“Detroit medium-duty engines will provide what no other manufacturer in North America can offer – a total vehicle solution that matches Daimler’s global engineering prowess with the most complete lineup bar none in the industry,” says Martin Daum, President and CEO, Daimler Trucks North America. “I am pleased to announce that select Daimler Truck North America vehicles will be available with medium-duty power by the end of 2016, and full production will take place in Detroit by the end of 2018.”

DD5 and DD8 Medium Duty Engine Investment

The new DD5 and DD8 lines will add approximately 160 new jobs to the Detroit headquarters facility and requires a minimum investment of $375 million.

The new engines were developed in an uncompromising manner for environmental friendliness, economy and performance by Daimler’s global powertrain engineering team. DTNA’s entire product lineup, including vehicles equipped with the DD5 and DD8, will meet GHG17 standards early. The engines will be initially built and shipped from Daimler’s powertrain facility in Mannheim, Germany with industrialization at the Detroit facility in 2018.

For sale in limited quantities, the Detroit DD5 medium-duty engines will be available in 2016 on the Freightliner M2 product line with extensive availability in 2018 across DTNA’s product portfolio including Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation vehicles.