Construction to start by the end of 2026 on what will be the OEM’s largest U.S. facility
Daimler Truck’s supervisory board has cleared plans for a new greenfield manufacturing facility in the United States that will become the company’s largest U.S. truck plant once complete. Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) announced the project on August 7, framing it as reinforcement of its long-term North American growth strategy.
The purpose-built plant will expand DTNA’s manufacturing capacity and strengthen production of both vocational and on-highway trucks. The company says it will incorporate state-of-the-art production technology and flexible manufacturing systems designed to boost efficiency, resilience and responsiveness to shifting customer demand — allowing DTNA to build a broad range of vehicle configurations on adaptable assembly lines.
“This new manufacturing facility supports our long-term growth plans for North America,” said Karin Rådström, president and CEO of Daimler Truck. “It strengthens our ability to serve customers by responding faster and more flexibly to their evolving needs while unlocking our full potential through growth, scale and efficiency in line with our global strategy.”
John O’Leary, president and CEO of DTNA, said the investment reflects confidence in the North American commercial vehicle market. “Our industry never stands still, and neither can we,” O’Leary said. “We are building for the future by creating a manufacturing network that is more flexible, resilient, and aligned with our customers’ evolving needs.”
Site still undecided
DTNA has not named a location. The company says it is weighing multiple sites based on workforce availability, supply chain access, transportation infrastructure and overall business climate; final selection, investment figures, capacity and which models will be built there have yet to be disclosed. Industry observers see the southeastern U.S. — particularly the Carolinas, where DTNA already runs plants in Cleveland, Gastonia, Mount Holly and High Point, N.C., plus Gaffney, S.C. — as a strong contender given the region’s role as the company’s existing production nucleus.
Once a site is chosen, construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with production targeted to start in 2029. DTNA says the plant is projected to create thousands of jobs over time and will lean on partnerships with suppliers, educational institutions and community organizations as it ramps up.
The announcement follows more than 80 years of DTNA manufacturing in the U.S. The company’s headquarters and engineering hub remain in Portland, Oregon, where teams handle vehicle development, testing and validation. DTNA describes the new facility as part of an ongoing effort to align its manufacturing footprint with long-term business needs, and says additional details — including the final site and employment projections — will follow.
Sources: Daimler Truck press release (daimlertruck.com); Transport Topics; FreightWaves; Commercial Carrier Journal; FleetOwner
