Detroit Diesel Inaugurates Detroit Diesel Motores Do Brasil Operation
6 November 1997
Detroit Diesel Inaugurates Detroit Diesel Motores Do Brasil Operation
CURITIBA, Brazil, Nov. 6 -- Detroit Diesel Corporation
today inaugurated its new engine assembly operation in Curitiba,
State of Parana, Brazil. This new operation will have the capacity to produce
up to 31,000 TD (Turbocharged Diesel) engines per year, producing 4-, 5-, and
6-cylinder automotive diesel engines for the Mercosur market and for worldwide
export. The 64,500 sq. ft. facility has been designed to meet the best
environmental standards of Brazil and DDC.
Initially, the Curitiba plant will supply 2.5L TD diesel engines to
Chrysler Corporation for use in its new Dodge Dakota pickup truck
assembled in Brazil, and for the Jeep(R) Cherokee sport utility vehicle,
assembled in Argentina. The engine will also be used by the Toledo assembly
plant in Toledo, Ohio (U.S.A.) for use in export production of the Jeep
Cherokee. The TD engine model is a 2.5 liter, four-stroke, turbocharged and
intercooled diesel engine. An initial production test shipment is scheduled
for early November, with regular production shipments to commence early in
January 1998.
The Brazilian 2.5L TD diesel engines will be identical to the engines
produced in Detroit Diesel's Cento, Italy facility. This operation in Brazil
allows using the proven design of the Cento product in a new market and
providing the local presence necessary to support that market. Detroit
Diesel's Cento plant supplies more than 70,000 automotive diesel engines
annually to major European manufacturers including Chrysler, General Motors
(Opel) and Ford Motor Company. Detroit Diesel Corporation Chairman, Roger S.
Penske said, "Detroit Diesel is committed to growing our automotive business
and we are pleased to enter into the Mercosur market. Using products of
local, high-quality suppliers in Brazil combined with critical components from
our Italian operation, we expect to quickly ramp up production of a high
quality product." DDC has long-standing relationships with Brazilian
component suppliers and imports more than $24 million worth of material from
Brazil annually.
Marc Forest, director and general manager, Detroit Diesel Motores do
Brasil, said, "The new facility is centrally located to serve the Mercosur and
export markets, and benefits from marine and air services, as well as road
transportation from suppliers to the plant."
Detroit Diesel Corporation is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and
service of heavy-duty diesel and alternative fuel engines, automotive diesel
engines, and engine-related products; and provides financing through Detroit
Diesel Capital Corporation. The Company offers a complete line of diesel
engines from ten to 10,000 horsepower for the on-highway truck; construction,
mining and industrial; automotive; coach and bus; marine; power generation;
and military markets. Detroit Diesel services these markets directly and
through a worldwide network of more than 2,500 authorized distributors and
dealers. DDC is a QS-9000 certified company.
Detroit Diesel's major shareholder is Penske Corporation, a closely-held,
diversified transportation services company whose operations include Penske
Truck Leasing Company, Diesel Technology Company, Penske Automotive Group,
Inc., Penske Auto Centers, Inc., Penske Motorsports, Inc., and Penske Capital
Partners. The Penske group of businesses has annual revenues exceeding $6
billion and employs more than 28,000 people around the world.
Detroit Diesel's World Wide Web address is http://www.detroitdiesel.com.
SOURCE Detroit Diesel Corporation