Announcing The New Motown Sound

GRAPEVINE, TX – – Daimler Trucks North America (DNTA), which owns the Detroit Diesel brand of products has nixed the “Diesel” from the name, signaling the company’s move to expand its line of vertically integrated components, including hybrids, non-diesel power and its own line of transmissions.

DTNA made the announcement on the eve of the American Trucking Association’s Annual Management Conference in Grapevine, Tx.

It’s all part of the company’s globalization process.

Andreas Renschler, Daimler Board of Management Member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, said DTNA and Detroit Diesel have embraced Daimler Trucks’ strategy through implementation of uniform production standards and processes, and a modular strategy for engine development, engineering and manufacturing processes that draws upon Daimler’s global resources.

An example: the Detroit DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines are all equipped with Daimler’s global SCR technology.

Added Martin Daum, president and CEO, DTNA: the new Detroit brand will be the platform for all current and future DTNA optimized vertically integrated powertrain components.

Detroit components will be available across the DTNA product family, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, and Freightliner Custom Chassis platforms; as well as other OEM’s including Pierce Manufacturing and Van Hool.

Announcements pertaining to the upcoming family of Detroit-branded products will be forthcoming over the next year with a wide variety of optimized powertrain products.

When asked if this means a move into transmission manufacturing, Daum answered “yes.” Detroit transmissions will be on offer as a spec in addition to existing transmission suppliers, he said

The Detroit Diesel brand has a long and respected history: It started when GM’s diesel engine division became Detroit Diesel in 1965, and it was closely allied transmission and gas turbine businesses of the Allison Div.

Daum said the company will be making further announcements regarding the Detroit brand at the Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY, in March.