Mercedes powers into the US
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• Mermdes-Benz and Detroit Diesel are to co-operate on supplying heavy truck engines in the US, Canada and Mexico. Mercedes will supply a European-built 12-litre block, the OM 457 LA, which will be developed to meet US 1994 and 1998 emissions regulations.
The deal is the first to be struck between a European truck producer and a North American engine manufacturer; it is an important pointer to Mercedes' future strategy.
Dr Bernt Gottshalk, head of the truck division at MercedesBenz AG, says: "This contract expresses our international multi-domestic strategy of the CV area of M-B AG. We will produce our products this way at competitive prices and can fully meet local market challenges."
Versions of the engine from 239-272kW (320-365hp) will be available in the US and Canada and will be rated at up to 306kW (410hp) in Mexico. European manufacturers have faced great difficulty selling engines in the US; the Detroit Diesel deal will give Mercedes access using the Detroit name.
Mercedes' US subsidiary Freightliner is the only manufacturer that has signed up for the engine so far, but Freightliner is the US market leader for Class 8 trucks (over 15 tonnas).
E Detroit Diesel has also announced a joint venture with Navistar in the US to develop a spark-ignited natural gas engine.
The Detroit Diesel series 30-G will be a vee-eight producing 157kW (210hp) at 2,800rpm and 610Nin (4501bft) at 1,800rpm. It will be turbo-charged with a wastegate control, electronic ignition and a compression ratio of 10:1. Navistar will produce the blocks; and Detroit Diesel will add the equipment to run the engines on natural gas.