DTNA to open new U.S. truck manufacturing plant in 2029

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) announced on August 6, 2026, plans to open a new U.S. truck manufacturing plant in 2029, with construction starting by the end of 2026. The facility will be the company’s largest truck plant in the United States once operational, though the exact location remains undecided. DTNA is evaluating multiple sites in the southeastern U.S., prioritizing factors such as supply chain stability, workforce availability, logistics infrastructure, and alignment with long-term strategy. The company’s current largest U.S. facility is the Cleveland plant in North Carolina, while most of its North American truck production occurs in Mexico, where it operates two plants. DTNA’s Mount Holly, North Carolina, facility is also undergoing workforce expansion, with 400 employees recalled in July 2026 and an additional 200 hires planned by the end of the year as part of a second-shift addition. The new plant reflects growing demand, as DTNA raised its 2026 sales guidance to 160,000–180,000 vehicles, up from a previous forecast, citing improving freight market conditions. The company reported an 8% year-over-year increase in Q2 2026 sales, marking its first quarterly sales rise in six quarters, with 41,687 vehicles sold compared to 38,580 in the same period last year. DTNA’s Freightliner and Western Star brands accounted for 40.8% of 2025 Class 8 truck sales, with a cumulative 39.6% market share in early 2026. CEO John O’Leary emphasized that the plant’s construction is part of a long-term strategy to expand market share and invest in new technologies, rather than a reaction to tariff policies. The announcement follows DTNA’s decision to close its Swan Island plant in Portland, Oregon, in October 2026, with production of the Western Star X-Series, Freightliner eCascadia, and Freightliner eM2 trucks being relocated to North and South Carolina to optimize the production network.