Detroit®, a Daimler Truck North America brand, is the industry-leading manufacturer of diesel and electric powertrains, safety systems, and connected vehicle services for Freightliner and Western Star commercial trucks. Detroit’s diesel powertrain includes the DD series of medium and heavy-duty engines for a variety of commercial and work vehicle applications, the DT12 automated manual transmission series that meets both on-highway and vocational business needs, and multiple axle options for a complete integrated powertrain solution. Detroit’s eMobility electric solutions feature the Detroit ePowertrain, complimented by eFill chargers and eConsulting services to get your business started in the zero emissions space. Detroit Assurance and Detroit Connect are powerful tools to keep trucks on the road or at the work site, maximizing uptime, safety and performance. When customers demand best-in-class powertrain components with forward thinking technology all backed by the industry’s best support and service network – they Demand Detroit.
A proud tradition of building engines with strength, quality and dependability began for Detroit in 1938, when it was known as the General Motors (GM) Diesel Division. The heavy-duty, on-highway Series 71 engine was used extensively in military and road-building and was followed by the Series 53 model, another powerhouse with wide-ranging applications.
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In 1965, GM Diesel became the Detroit Engine Division, partnering with the transmission and gas-turbine business of the Allison Division, forming Detroit Diesel Allison. Sales tripled. By the 1980s, Detroit Diesel had split from the Allison Division, when the Series 60 was developed to meet the demand for a cleaner, more fuel-efficient heavy-duty engine. The Series 60 quickly became the most popular heavy-duty engine in the North American class-8 segment.
A late-1980s joint venture between Penske Corporation and GM created Detroit Diesel Corporation. In 2000, Daimler-Chrysler acquired the business, making Detroit Diesel a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America. In 2011, Detroit Diesel expanded its design and manufacturing scope beyond engines, simplifying its name to Detroit. Beginning in 2021, Detroit entered the zero emissions market with a line of battery electric products. Today, Detroit products and services are supported by a parts and distribution network of over 700 locations in North America.