REDFORD, Mich. — Daimler Trucks North America officially launched production of its Detroit-branded DT12 automated manual transmission on Nov. 20, while simultaneously announcing a $375 million investment to produce medium-duty engines here in 2018.
“Our investment is a tangible example of how we maximize the use of our global platforms optimized for regional markets,” said Wolfgang Bernhard, head of Daimler’s global truck and bus unit.
Daimler officials, including President Martin Daum, were joined by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and nearly 2,000 UAW workers at the plant located just outside Detroit for a celebration that came 35 months after President Obama toured the same facility.
It was during that visit by Obama that DTNA originally announced its intention to make transmissions outside of Germany for the first time. The company invested $100 million and created 170 new jobs to make it a reality.
Earlier this year, Daum said demand for AMTs was outpacing the company’s ability to produce them. The AMT is available on the Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 5700XE models.
In recent years, several truck manufacturers have been pushing a vertical integration strategy. In Daimler’s case, the powertrain brings together a Detroit engine, transmission and axles. The company said the powertrain is part of its effort to have uniform global production standards.
Daimler actually began making the DT12s about four weeks ago and is producing about 120 per day.
Meanwhile, DTNA initially announced its intention to produce the DD5 and DD8 medium-duty engines in October 2014. At the time, Daum said the engines would be exported from Germany starting in 2016, with North American development expected in 2018.
“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 hard-working people of Michigan,” Snyder said.
DTNA said the DD5 and DD8 lines will add about 160 new jobs to the Detroit facility. The engines will meet 2017 greenhouse-gas standards.
