Daimler Truck invests $285M to upgrade automotive manufacturing plant in Michigan
Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) has announced plans to upgrade its manufacturing plant in Redford Township, Michigan. The plant is part of Detroit Diesel Corporation, a DTNA subsidiary. The company, which provides products, services and technologies for the commercial transportation industry, will invest up to $285 million into the project, creating 400 new jobs in the process. According to the company, the funds will be invested in DTNA’s internal combustion engine (ICE) platform and research and development facilities. DTNA hopes the investment will help maintain its current production capacity, increase innovation of ICE components, and support the growing demand for cleaner, more fuel-efficient engines and components. Construction on the project is expected to begin this year.
To help aid the project, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has offered DTNA a $27.7 million performance-based Critical Industries Program grant. Additionally, DTNA has received Michigan Strategic Fund support for a State Essential Services Assessment abatement with an estimated value of up to $3.29 million.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Matt Pfaffenbach, vice president of powertrain operations, said, “Our Detroit Manufacturing Plant, with its legacy of over 85 years in Michigan, stands as a testament to innovation and progress. This expansion is about more than just innovation; it’s about creating job opportunities and upskilling our workforce to meet the demands of tomorrow’s technology, while helping to stabilize the heavy-duty supply chain. This transformative project will propel us into a new era of manufacturing excellence while strengthening our role in the industry and bringing significant growth to the community we call home. It would not be possible without the support of the MEDC, and we are proud to support both our community and our employees through this initiative.”
Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund Board, added, “My thanks and congratulations to Detroit Diesel Corporation for their commitment to Michigan’s hardworking mobility industry workers employed at its Redford Township facility. Michigan’s workforce, supply chain, and R&D strength in the mobility are the best in North America, and earning this project further cements that leadership. Detroit Diesel Corporation and companies like it embody the ‘Make It In Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on People, Places, and Projects, and we look forward to the innovations and advancements to come.”
Manufacturers investing in Michigan
Hemlock Semiconductor receives $325 million from CHIPS Act to increase production of hyper-pure polysilicon in Michigan
According to the company, the project will generate 180 new jobs for the surrounding area.
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Construction on the new facility will begin later this year, with production beginning in 2026.
NanoGraf awarded $60M to build silicon anode battery materials manufacturing plant in Michigan
The facility will produce 2,500 tons per year of NanoGraf’s proprietary silicon anode material.
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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