Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has announced significant investments in its headquarters complex on Swan Island in Portland, Oregon. The company is set to establish a new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) training center adjacent to Electric Island and a new engineering facility at the DTNA campus.
The new EVSE training center, a valuable addition to the ‘Electric Island’ complex, aims to accelerate the testing and development of charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles. It will serve as a resource center for the DTNA dealer network and community stakeholders. John O’Leary, President and CEO of DTNA, expressed pride in the company’s Portland roots, stating, “We appreciate the City and State’s support of our expansion plans to further promote the development and proper testing of advanced technology.”
The training center is expected to cost around $3 million, with funding partly provided through a forgivable loan from Prosper Portland, the city’s economic development agency. Additionally, DTNA is constructing a new engineering facility covering approximately 110,000 ft². This facility will consolidate testing activities and focus on research and development for emerging propulsion technologies, including battery electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio praised DTNA’s investment, stating, “I am thrilled by DTNA’s decision to invest significant resources and continue to lead heavy-duty vehicle technology right here in Portland.” The State of Oregon is supporting the construction of the engineering facility with a $700,000 forgivable loan from the State’s Strategic Reserve fund.
Portland has been a key location for DTNA, with recent milestones including the start of customer deliveries of the Freightliner eM2 electric truck and the introduction of the eCascadia in 2022. The company also electrified its logistics at the facility towards the end of 2023, underscoring its commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
