Daimler Truck North America to Build New U.S. Truck Plant by 2029

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) recently announced plans to build a new truck manufacturing plant in the United States, a strategic investment aimed at strengthening its production capacity and meeting the sustained growth in demand across the North American market. According to the truck manufacturer, construction is expected to begin toward the end of 2026, with the new facility scheduled to become operational by 2029.

The announcement represents one of Daimler Truck North America’s most significant industrial projects for the coming years. According to the company’s CEO, John O’Leary, once operational, the new facility will be the largest truck manufacturing plant the company operates in the United States.

Currently, DTNA’s Cleveland, North Carolina, plant is the company’s largest production facility in the United States. However, a significant portion of the Freightliner and Western Star trucks sold across North America is currently assembled at the company’s two manufacturing plants in Mexico.

The decision comes just weeks after Daimler Truck announced the permanent closure of its Swan Island plant in Portland, Oregon, scheduled for October 30. The shutdown will mark the end of Freightliner truck production in Portland, an operation that has been in place since 1947. The company aims to optimize its manufacturing network by concentrating production at facilities with greater capacity and efficiency.

DTNA Expands Its Manufacturing Capacity in the United States

DTNA’s expansion in the United States will strengthen the company’s domestic manufacturing capacity without necessarily replacing its existing operations in other countries.

The company has not yet selected the final location for the project. However, the southeastern United States, particularly North Carolina and South Carolina, is considered the leading candidate due to the strong industrial infrastructure DTNA already has in the region.

The main criteria for selecting the site include:

• Availability of a strong and efficient supply chain.
• Access to a skilled workforce.
• Logistics and transportation infrastructure.
• Favorable investment conditions.
• Alignment with the company’s long-term manufacturing strategy.

North Carolina has an advantage because of Freightliner and DTNA’s long-standing presence in the state. In addition to its Cleveland plant, the company operates facilities in Mount Holly and Gastonia, while its Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis divisions have manufacturing operations in High Point and Gaffney, South Carolina.

A Greenfield Plant Designed for Next-Generation Technologies

As part of its growth strategy, DTNA also announced an expansion of its workforce at the Mount Holly plant. The company will bring back approximately 400 employees who were laid off during 2025 as part of a workforce reduction program that affected around 2,000 positions across North America. In addition, DTNA plans to hire 200 more employees before the end of 2026 to add a second production shift and increase manufacturing capacity.

These actions reflect a recovery in industrial activity driven by improvements in the freight transportation market. The decision to build a new plant is part of the company’s long-term growth strategy aimed at maintaining the competitiveness of Freightliner and Western Star in the U.S. market.