PORTLAND,
OREGON - In response to today's interest in the
Unimog, Freightliner LLC would like to clarify its strategy for
selling and marketing the Unimog multi-purpose vocational truck
in North America.
The Unimog
is targeted at a variety of vocational markets, from utilities
and municipal services to fire and rescue services. Built by Mercedes-Benz
for more than fifty years, the Unimog is a highly specialized
vehicle suited for plowing snow, fighting fires, agricultural
applications or other tasks performed by commercial vehicles.
The
Unimog is not intended to compete in the mass sport-utility vehicle
markets. It is a Class 6 commercial truck intended for service
applications where terrain or weather require a high-mobility
vehicle.
Unimog will
meet all U.S. laws for emissions, size, weight and other commercial
vehicle requirements and is designed for safe performance and
environmental compliance.
Freightliner
LLC will sell and market the Unimog under its Freightliner Trucks
(commercial trucks) and American LaFrance (fire trucks) brands.
Unimogs will be built in Gaggenau, Germany and imported to the
U.S. Production begins in early 2002.
Freightliner
LLC expects to sell about 300 Unimogs in the U.S. in 2002.
Freightliner
LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading heavy truck
manufacturer in North America. Freightliner produces and markets
Class 3-8 vehicles under the Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star,
American LaFrance, Orion and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Freightliner
is a DaimlerChrysler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle
manufacturer.