Merc/Oshkosh alliance
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• Mercedes-Benz US subsidiary Freightliner has signed a letter of intent to form an alliance with specialist US truck maker Oshkosh. The agreement gives Freightliner access to the rugged Oshkosh construction, refuse and snow removal vehicles as well as schoolbus, shuttle and motorhome chassis.
Freightliner will acquire 350,000 of unissued Oshkosh B shares, giving it a 5% stake in the company. Freightliner will also acquire warrants for a further 1,250,000 shares.
The agreement also allows for Freightliner to purchase the Gaffney chassis plant from Oshkosh and acquire Oshkosh's 45% share of Oshmex. Based in Mexico City, Oshrnex is a joint venture that builds bus chassis for the Mexican market.
Oshkosh is the world's leading manufacturer of wheeled tactical vehicles and uses much of that technology to build its rugged civilian specialist products.
Freightliner president and CEO Jim Hebe said that the companies would collaborate on the development of a series of truck components for the heavy-duty industry. But it is not clear if these will be used by Mercedes-Benz in Europe.