History
When General Motors formed the GM Diesel Division—the ancestor to Detroit
Diesel—back in 1938, the trucking world would never be the same. With World War
II heating up, our first engines were compact, lightweight, two-cycle products
developed to power standby generators, tanks, landing craft and road building
equipment. A tradition of strength, quality and dependability was born.
Detroit Diesel Through the Years
1950's
Soon, the war had ended, and GM Diesel recognized the growing opportunity in
the on-highway truck market. The company began developing heavy-duty engines to
meet these commercial needs, and in 1957 introduced the Series 53 and Series 71
engines for both on-highway and off-road use.
1960's
Meanwhile, in the late 1950's and 1960's, GM Diesel also began to focus on
developing a worldwide distribution network of independent, authorized
distributors and dealers to provide parts and service.
In 1965, GM Diesel became Detroit Diesel Engine Division. Then, just five years
later, General Motors consolidated the company with the closely allied
transmission and gas turbine businesses of the Allison Division—forming the
Detroit Diesel Allison Division. For the next 20 years, the Detroit Diesel
Allison Division grew.
1987
In 1987, the Series 60—the four-cycle heavy-duty engine that would become the
signature of Detroit Diesel—was introduced as the first production engine with
integrated electronic controls as a standard feature. The Series 60 was
developed to meet the demand for cleaner and more fuel-efficient heavy-duty
engines, and quickly become the most popular, heavy-duty diesel engine in the
North American Class 8 truck market.
1988
On January 1, 1988, a joint venture between Penske Coroporation and General
Motors created the Detroit Diesel, the successor to the
heavy-duty diesel engine business of the Detroit Diesel Allison Division.
1993
In October 1993, Detroit Diesel had grown in on-highway heavy-duty market share to 33%
from 3% only a few years earlier. The company also completed a successful
initial public offering of common stock, becoming a publicly traded company
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock symbol "DDC.—
2000
By 2000, Detroit Diesel was a dynamic and noted company—both within the trucking industry,
and the investment community. In October, DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's
leading manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel truck engines, completed a tender
offer for all outstanding shares of Detroit Diesel, including the 48.6%
ownership interest of Penske Corporation.
Following the acquisition, DaimlerChrysler consolidated various engine and
other powertrain component activities (including Detroit Diesel and Mercedes-Benz
industrial engines) into the Commercial Vehicle Division under a new business
unit named DaimlerChrysler Powersystems. The new company brought together more
than 34,000 employees and combined revenues of approximately $7 billion.
Present
Today, Detroit Diesel is a subsidiary of Daimler AG—designing, manufacturing,
selling and servicing a complete line of medium and heavy-duty diesel and
alternative fuel engines for the commercial vehicle market. With a worldwide
network of more than 2,700 authorized distributor and dealer locations, Detroit Diesel has
become a global leader in the diesel engine industry. Read the Fast Facts to learn more.