Freightliner LLC said Wednesday that it plans to build a new $300 million truck manufacturing plant in Saltillo, Coahuila, in northern Mexico. The plant will produce Freightliner and Sterling trucks.
The company already has one plant in Mexico, the Santiago Tianguistenco plant for Freightliner-branded heavy- and medium-duty trucks for Mexico, as well as exports to Latin America, the U.S. and Canada.
The new 1 million square foot plant will be located near the existing plant, allowing for the expansion of a supplier park and railroad terminal.
The Saltillo plant will be located on a 740 acre site that will have a PDI/transporter center and test track, and provide space for future expansion.
Groundbreaking for the plant, which could produce up to 30,000 trucks annually and have 1,600 employees, is expected for the second quarter of 2007. Operations are anticipated to begin in early 2009.
Oregon-based Freightliner LLC produces and markets Class 5-8 vehicles and is part of DaimlerChrysler’s Truck Group.
