New Name for Freightliner

[dengraham]

Freightliner LLC Announces Company Name Change



PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Freightliner LLC today
announced
the upcoming change of its corporate name to Daimler Trucks North
America
LLC. Effective January 7, 2008, this corporate identity will reflect
the
company's role as steward of several highly regarded brands in a
number of
different industry sectors, and its role as the North American
presence of
the world's largest commercial vehicle producer.
In parallel, the shareholders of the former DaimlerChrysler AG
approved
a corporate name change to Daimler AG at a special meeting on October
4.
Freightliner LLC has been a part of Daimler AG or one of its
predecessor
companies since 1981.
A new Daimler logo was unveiled yesterday in Stuttgart and in
Daimler
business units worldwide, underscoring the company transformation
which
commenced with the divestiture of the former Chrysler Group (now
Chrysler
LLC) on August 3. At the same time, the name of the former
DaimlerChrysler
Truck Group was changed to Daimler Trucks.
Freightliner LLC, soon to be Daimler Trucks North America,
manufactures, distributes, and services products under the nameplates
Detroit Diesel, Freightliner Trucks, Freightliner Custom Chassis,
Mercedes-Benz engines and transmissions, Sterling Trucks, Thomas Built
Buses, and Western Star Trucks, and is a leader in each of the
markets in
which it competes.
In historical terms, the brands represented by Freightliner LLC
have
played an integral part in North American and global trucking for many
years (brand inception dates noted):
Mercedes-Benz (1926)
Thomas Built Buses (1936)
Detroit Diesel (1938)
Freightliner (1942)
Western Star (1967)
Sterling (1998)
Elsewhere in the world, the company is affiliated with Mercedes-
Benz
Trucks, and Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks and Buses, each, in turn, leaders
in
their competitive arenas and part of the global Daimler Trucks
division.
"Our business has changed dramatically in the past decade, and
our name
should reflect that reality," stated Chris Patterson, president and
chief
executive officer. "The transition occurring in our parent company
presented us with the opportunity to stop and examine our own
organization
and position in the industry. The time is right to implement a name
change
that reflects both our global DNA and our broad responsibilities
within the
NAFTA region."
Company officials stress that existing operations, structure and
brand
strategies will not be affected. They also affirm that the name
change will
not impact dealer operations or supplier relationships. "We are
confident
and comfortable that our employees, dealers, customers, and suppliers
will
see this as a non-issue in their day-to-day operations," stated
Patterson.
"Our strength has always resided in the products we produce under our
various nameplates and the services we provide," he added. "That won't
change at all."
Freightliner LLC is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and is the
leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Freightliner
LLC
produces and markets Class 3-8 trucks and is a part of Daimler
Trucks, the
world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

[dengraham]

Freightliner LLC Announces Company Name Change



PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Freightliner LLC today
announced
the upcoming change of its corporate name to Daimler Trucks North
America
LLC. Effective January 7, 2008, this corporate identity will reflect
the
company's role as steward of several highly regarded brands in a
number of
different industry sectors, and its role as the North American
presence of
the world's largest commercial vehicle producer.
In parallel, the shareholders of the former DaimlerChrysler AG
approved
a corporate name change to Daimler AG at a special meeting on October
4.
Freightliner LLC has been a part of Daimler AG or one of its
predecessor
companies since 1981.
A new Daimler logo was unveiled yesterday in Stuttgart and in
Daimler
business units worldwide, underscoring the company transformation
which
commenced with the divestiture of the former Chrysler Group (now
Chrysler
LLC) on August 3. At the same time, the name of the former
DaimlerChrysler
Truck Group was changed to Daimler Trucks.
Freightliner LLC, soon to be Daimler Trucks North America,
manufactures, distributes, and services products under the nameplates
Detroit Diesel, Freightliner Trucks, Freightliner Custom Chassis,
Mercedes-Benz engines and transmissions, Sterling Trucks, Thomas Built
Buses, and Western Star Trucks, and is a leader in each of the
markets in
which it competes.
In historical terms, the brands represented by Freightliner LLC
have
played an integral part in North American and global trucking for many
years (brand inception dates noted):
Mercedes-Benz (1926)
Thomas Built Buses (1936)
Detroit Diesel (1938)
Freightliner (1942)
Western Star (1967)
Sterling (1998)
Elsewhere in the world, the company is affiliated with Mercedes-
Benz
Trucks, and Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks and Buses, each, in turn, leaders
in
their competitive arenas and part of the global Daimler Trucks
division.
"Our business has changed dramatically in the past decade, and
our name
should reflect that reality," stated Chris Patterson, president and
chief
executive officer. "The transition occurring in our parent company
presented us with the opportunity to stop and examine our own
organization
and position in the industry. The time is right to implement a name
change
that reflects both our global DNA and our broad responsibilities
within the
NAFTA region."
Company officials stress that existing operations, structure and
brand
strategies will not be affected. They also affirm that the name
change will
not impact dealer operations or supplier relationships. "We are
confident
and comfortable that our employees, dealers, customers, and suppliers
will
see this as a non-issue in their day-to-day operations," stated
Patterson.
"Our strength has always resided in the products we produce under our
various nameplates and the services we provide," he added. "That won't
change at all."
Freightliner LLC is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and is the
leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Freightliner
LLC
produces and markets Class 3-8 trucks and is a part of Daimler
Trucks, the
world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

[SCVJeff]

SOoo.... This means I now have a Mercedes C34H?

[Pusherman]

With the CAT engine, it must be a KittyBenz....

[SCVJeff]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pusherman:
With the CAT engine, it must be a KittyBenz.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Hummm.. Well that sounds kinda sissy
I can see myself going down the road with an emblem of a Tabby.

[Jestme13]

Personaly, I think it stinks.

[JoeT]

You vil accept ze name change, und you vil like it!

[Cruzer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pusherman:
With the CAT engine, it must be a KittyBenz.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Maybe that's the reason the FL dropped the Cat engine for 2008. They were afraid of the name change implications.

Hmmm, if a front engined motorhome has a doghouse, would a rear engined pusher powered by Cat be a cathouse?

[Pusherman]

Aaahhh..... The truth is now out....