Daimler Truck North America's New U.S. Manufacturing Site Expected to Begin Production in 2029

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 6, Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck, stated during the third-quarter earnings call that Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) is finalizing the land purchase for its new U.S. manufacturing plant and expects to announce the final site selection before Christmas 2026. The project is scheduled to break ground by the end of 2026 and begin operations in 2029, after which it will become DTNA's largest truck manufacturing site in the United States.

The new plant will be built as a greenfield facility and is planned to produce on-highway trucks and vocational trucks, expanding DTNA's vehicle manufacturing capacity in the North American market. The plant will be equipped with next-generation production equipment, digital manufacturing systems, and flexible assembly lines to accommodate the production requirements of different vehicle models and configurations.

DTNA is focusing its evaluation on local supply chain support, the availability of skilled manufacturing workers, transportation and logistics infrastructure, the business environment, and long-term manufacturing layout. The southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas region, was previously identified as a key candidate area.

The new plant construction plan was first announced in August 2026. At that time, DTNA stated that the project would introduce a more flexible production system through the construction of a new facility to support the manufacturing of on-highway trucks and vocational vehicles. With the land purchase now entering its final stage, the project has shifted from preliminary site evaluation to construction preparation.

The investment also involves adjustments to DTNA's existing manufacturing network. The company has arranged to close its Swan Island manufacturing plant in Portland, Oregon, and to transfer production of models including the Western Star X-Series, Freightliner eCascadia, and Freightliner eM2 to existing plants in South Carolina and North Carolina. The new plant will take on the task of adding new manufacturing capacity. The company previously stated that, apart from the Portland plant, it has no current plans to close other North American manufacturing sites as a result of the new project.

DTNA's main commercial vehicle brands include Freightliner and Western Star. The company stated that the new plant will work in coordination with existing production facilities in North Carolina and South Carolina to form a manufacturing network, enhancing production allocation flexibility across different vehicle models.