Paccar Delays Engine Plant Opening Until Late 2010

Truck maker Paccar Inc. has pushed back by a year the opening date of a diesel engine plant in Mississippi to late 2010, the Associated Press reported.

The Columbus, Miss., facility was originally scheduled to begin operations late this year, but Paccar has delayed it due to the slow economy, AP said.

The plant will manufacture 12.9-liter and 9.2-liter diesel engines for U.S. units Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co., and Europe-based DAF.

Paccar originally announced plans for the plant in 2007, signing a contract with the state to provide 500 jobs at the site by 2013, AP said.

Workers are installing and checking equipment at the nearly complete facility, AP reported.