Daimler cozy up to Cummins

Fallout from the Caterpillar/Navistar deal continues with an announcement by Freightliner concerning the return of Cummins as an engine supplier in the US. Freightliner have only offered Detroit or Cat in heavy duty for the last five years on their domestic market.

News websites in the US reports that Daimler Trucks North America have said they will have both a Selective Catalytic Reduction and a non-SCR engine option available for customers in 2010.

Freightliner are quoted as saying it will offer Cummins ISX power, as well as the Detroit Diesel DD15, in its heavy duty Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star trucks.

“This decision will complement our current successful and proprietary product line of Detroit Diesel and Mercedes-Benz engines. It will expand and strengthen the range of choices for our customers, and establish Cummins as a full range vendor engine partner,” said Chris Patterson, president and chief executive officer of Daimler in the US.

“This action was a result of many months of carefully considered planning and consulting with our key customers to determine engine needs and preferences. We are convinced that expanded engine options will offer the best suite of solutions on the market, bar none,” added Patterson.

Daimler’s own Detroit Dioesel DD15 will use SCR to meet EPA2010 emissions standards while Cummins says it won’t need SCR choosing instead to introduce the XPI fuel injection system to reduce exhaust emissions.

In a surprise move the company also stated Cummins ISX will be available in the Freightliner Cascadia in an EPA07 configuration with deliveries to start in January 2009.