Daimler Trucks announced a $375m 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,” said 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.”
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,” said Martin Daum, president and chief executive officer, 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.”
The new DD5 and DD8 lines will add approximately 160 new jobs to the Detroit Headquarters facility and requires a minimum investment of $375M. 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 line-up, 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.
The new DT12 transmision combines the operational ease of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual transmission, resulting in enhanced fuel economy, vehicle performance and safety. The addition of the Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission and related assembly represented a capital investment of $100 million and resulted in the addition of 170 new jobs.
“The start of production of the DT12 AMT in Detroit is a testament to our global production team,” said Frank Reintjes, head of global powertrain, Daimler Trucks and Buses. “Our global powertrain ‘mantra’ is to leverage leading technology and an international team to deliver competitiveness as well as relevant powertrain performance to regional markets - taking the best from Germany, North America or elsewhere in Daimler’s vast network of operations and engineering facilities.”
Available in the Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 5700 XE, the DT12 maximizes fuel efficiency for line-haul/long haul operations. Adding to the transmission’s overall economy is its lightweight design, which offers additional payload because of its aluminum housing and single counter shaft.
The DT12 improves slow-speed maneuvering capabilities without compromising high road speed efficiency. The 12-speed, direct- or over-drive automated manual transmission combines a traditional manual gearbox with high-speed, computer-controlled shift and clutch actuators that automatically and seamlessly select the right shift pattern and perfect clutch engagement for fuel economy and engine power. The DT12’s creep mode simulates a torque converter to improve low speed maneuverability for parking, docking, heavy traffic and other low speed situations.
Advanced technologies include Skip Shift, which automatically skips gears, enabling the transmission to run through lower gears faster to achieve cruising speed sooner; and eCoast, which allows the vehicle to ‘coast’ down grades with the engine operating at idle speeds while preserving vehicle momentum, maximizing fuel efficiency.