The Mercedes-Benz Mannheim Plant and Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) subsidiary Detroit Diesel Corporation has produced one million heavy-duty engines. The team at Mannheim followed the millionth in-line six-cylinder engine as it came off the line.
For more than 10 years, Daimler Trucks has relied on a standardized powertrain platform for heavy-duty trucks. This includes engines, axles and transmissions.
Detroit Diesel started the series production of the heavy-duty engine in 2007. The production of the in-line six-cylinder engine at the Mannheim location followed three years later in close cooperation with the North American colleagues.
The Mercedes-Benz in-line six-cylinder engine is characterized by maximum efficiency and performance as well as minimal emissions, also offering a displacement range between 10.7 liters and 15.6 liters and output levels from 325ps to 650ps.
The heavy-duty powertrains benefit from continuous improvements implemented in the years since production started. These comprise new low-friction engine oils, further advanced transmissions and a further refined driving strategy of the anticipatory cruise control system Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC).