Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has announced plans for a substantial investment in a new electric vehicle engineering facility at its Swan Island headquarters in Portland, Oregon, totaling more than $40 million.
The new 110,000-square-foot engineering facility aims to consolidate multiple research projects, focusing on both battery electric and hydrogen-fuel cell electric vehicles, into a single location. This strategic investment is projected to create approximately 150 new, high-wage jobs in the area.
“We are proud to call Portland, Oregon our home,” stated John O’Leary, President and CEO of DTNA. “We appreciate the City and State’s support of our expansion plans to further promote the development and proper testing of advanced technology and look forward to collaborating for many more years to come on training and employing a future-ready workforce.”
This new facility, an extension of DTNA’s “Electric Island,” will expedite the testing and advancement of charging equipment for commercial vehicles. Notably, DTNA had previously collaborated with Portland General Electric (PGE) in 2021 to establish a pioneering charging station for electric trucks.
In addition to the engineering facility, Daimler will allocate $3 million toward a new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) training center, situated adjacent to Electric Island. This center will serve as a training hub for the DTNA dealer network and a resource center for community stakeholders interested in the clean transportation industry. Of the $3 million, $1.5 million will be financed through a forgivable loan from Prosper Portland, the city’s economic development agency.
Daimler’s presence in Portland dates back to 1942 with the founding of the Freightliner brand, which Daimler acquired in 1981. The establishment of its North American trucks headquarters in Portland underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to the city.
