Detroit Diesel and Freightliner LLC Deliver and Support Customer Demonstration Vehicles in Preparation for EPA '07


PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 27 / -- Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) and Freightliner LLC today announced that their joint Customer Demonstration Program is on track as 40 planned customer demonstration vehicles have been assembled at three of the company's manufacturing facilities that assemble Class 8 vehicles. Most of these units are now in the process of being delivered to 16 customers -- all equipped with EPA '07 compliant Series 60 engines.

Although still several months away from public release, the 2007 Series 60 engine has already proven itself with more than five million test miles. The results: this engine delivers the durability, power and reliability customers have come to expect from a Series 60. Additionally, testing so far has shown excellent fuel economy, which enables the Series 60 to maintain its position as the industry fuel economy leader among Class 8 heavy-duty diesel engines.

In addition to the Series 60, Detroit Diesel Corporation is set to launch the Mercedes-Benz 900 medium-duty diesel engine and Mercedes-Benz 4000 heavy- duty diesel engine in 2007.

In preparation to meet the new emissions standards, Detroit Diesel is conducting the most aggressive and comprehensive testing program in its history as one of the largest diesel engine manufacturers in the world. By the time the three engines launch in 2007, the company expects to have accumulated 24 million test miles, demonstrating its commitment to launching only the highest quality product.

"We've learned a tremendous amount over the past year through our testing efforts and through our customer demonstration program," said Tim Tindall, Director of the EPA '07 Program for Detroit Diesel Corporation. "These customer engines have full engine and aftertreatment functionality so we will continue to gather feedback from our valued customers and apply what we learn across all of our engines in an effort to deliver products that provide superior fuel economy, driveability, durability and reliability."

Larry Dutko, EPA '07 Program Manager for Freightliner LLC and Tindall's counterpart on the truck side, stresses that the close collaboration with Detroit Diesel has proven a significant benefit in developing and testing the 2007 engines.

"Given all the required changes to the engine, including the addition of the particulate filter, it really puts us in a position to leverage our relationship with Detroit Diesel to the fullest extent so that we provide the best engines possible come 2007," explained Dutko. "As two business units of DaimlerChrysler's Truck Group -- the largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in the world -- we are always looking at how we can collaborate more closely in how we approach truck and engine development. Our goal is not just to meet, but exceed our customers' expectations."

Freightliner LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Freightliner produces and markets Class 5-8 vehicles and is a company of DaimlerChrysler, the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer.

Detroit Diesel Corporation is the leading manufacturer of on-highway heavy-duty diesel engines for the commercial truck market. The company offers a complete line of engines from 170 to 515 horsepower for the on-highway and vocational markets. Through its corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Diesel is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service of these products, in addition to supporting alternative and hybrid engine strategies for the commercial truck marketplace. Detroit Diesel is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and part of the Freightliner group of companies.

Source: Detroit Diesel Corporation

CONTACT: Liane Bilicki of Detroit Diesel Corporation, +1-313-592-5266

Web site: http://www.detroitdiesel.com/

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