Detroit Diesel Partners With Freightliner

DETROIT, March 21 -- The Mercedes-Benz 900 series engine (MBE 900) available in the NAFTA region since 1998 has hit a new ``benchmark.'' Currently, more than 17,000 have been put into operation, primarily in Freightliner LLC built vehicles including Freightliner, Sterling and Thomas Built Bus. Based on the success of the 17,000 units in operation, Freightliner has specified the MBE 900 as standard equipment in the new Freightliner Business Class M2. Over 250,000 MBE 900 engines are in operation worldwide.

Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) and its distributors are working with Freightliner dealers to provide the same sales support, new and remanufactured parts support, and service capability, which customers know with the popular Series 60 engine. This is true throughout the U.S. and Canada and applies to both the MBE 900 for medium-duty applications, and the MBE 4000 for heavy-duty applications. These engines are built in Mannheim, Germany, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, respectively.

MBE 900 engines are available in four and six-cylinder in-line versions, with ratings from 150 to 300 hp. The MBE 4000 is an in-line six-cylinder engine designed for the heavy-duty market, rated at 350 to 450 hp and weighs approximately 2,070 lbs.

DDC is part of the DaimlerChrysler Powersystems On-Highway Engine Product Unit as are the Mannheim and Brazil manufacturing operations. DDC is responsible for application engineering, engine ordering, initial parts distribution, factory service support, and warranty administration of these two engines. The production facilities in Germany and Brazil will retain responsibility for product engineering and manufacturing.

``This combines the capabilities of all operations in the Engine Product Unit with the overall strategy of DaimlerChrysler. The DDC organization specializes in engines and technical support in NAFTA so it is a good fit with our existing activities,'' said Doug Ackerman, Program Manager for DDC. ``These new offerings from DDC really round out our line up, as we now have the MBE 900 and MBE 4000 engines to go along with the Series 40, Series 50, and Series 60 engines. We have a proven medium-duty line to complement the Series 60, and the MBE 4000 gives us a lighter weight, heavy-duty engine to target regional distribution, vocational and weight sensitive applications.''

Detroit Diesel Corporation, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service of heavy-duty diesel and alternative fuel engines, automotive diesel engines and engine-related products. The company offers a complete line of engines from 22 to 13,000 horsepower for the on-highway, off-highway and automotive markets and is a QS- 9000 certified company. Detroit Diesel services these markets directly and through a worldwide network of more than 2,700 authorized DDC and MTU distributor and dealer locations. Detroit Diesel is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's leading manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel truck engines and is part of the DaimlerChrysler Powersystems Business Unit.