Daimler Trucks North America Celebrates 1,000th Natural Gas Truck

ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) today announced the delivery of its 1,000th natural gas truck and is the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to achieve such a milestone.

DTNA turned over the key to its 1,000th natural gas truck, the first Freightliner 114SD compressed natural gas (CNG) truck with a Cummins Westport ISL G engine, to customer Ryder System, Inc. (Ryder) (NYSE: R) during a ceremony to commemorate the milestone at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.

The Freightliner 114SD CNG truck is powered by a Cummins Westport ISL G 8.9 liter engine, the only one of its kind that is a factory-produced, dedicated natural gas engine. The 1,000th Freightliner natural gas vehicle was manufactured at DTNA's plant in Mt. Holly, North Carolina.  

"With our 1,000th natural gas truck, DTNA solidifies its position as the market leader in alternative fuel options," said Mark Lampert, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Daimler Trucks North America. "This achievement is unmatched in the commercial vehicle industry, and we are proud to be pacing the industry in natural gas and sustainable green technologies."

Daimler's natural gas truck technology offers many economic and environmental benefits without sacrificing performance. In addition, natural gas vehicles offer tremendous fuel cost saving potential with natural gas fuel costs 30 to 40 percent less than diesel, based on current prices. Natural gas vehicles also produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions, cancer-causing pollutants, and greenhouse gases.

"DTNA's 1,000th natural gas truck is an important milestone and a strong example of our dedication to manufacturing high-performance, low-emission vehicles that help our customers save on fuel costs," said Bob Carrick, vocational sales manager, natural gas Freightliner trucks for Daimler Trucks North America. "These vehicles not only save our customers money, they also provide air quality benefits in the communities where they are deployed."

Upon formally accepting the vehicle from DTNA, Scott Perry, vice president, supply management, Ryder Fleet Management Solutions stated, "As a leader in commercial transportation and logistics, Ryder is leveraging its unique ability to influence and reach a broad, diverse customer base to improve access to alternative fuels such as natural gas."  "Working closely with industry partners like Freightliner enables us to continue to offer our customers new vehicle technologies that are reliable, cost-effective, and that help them realize their sustainable transportation goals."

DTNA leads the automotive manufacturing market in the production of natural gas powered conventional commercial vehicles with a combined sales figure of 3,600 natural gas vehicles across its Daimler Trucks North America brands, including Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis. A leader in developing clean vehicle technologies, the company also celebrated its 1,000th hybrid vehicle earlier this year at the DTNA manufacturing plant in Mt. Holly, North Carolina.

DTNA's commitment to green technologies is part of parent company Daimler AG's global "Shaping Future Transportation" initiative. Launched in 2007, the initiative is focused on reducing criteria pollutants, carbon dioxide and fuel consumption through the utilization of clean, efficient drive systems and alternative fuels.

For more information on Daimler Trucks North America, visit the website at www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com.

About Daimler Trucks North America

Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, OR, is the leading medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.

Contact:
David Giroux
503.745.6435
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SOURCE Daimler Trucks North America LLC