Detroit Brand History

1950’s – GM Diesel began developing heavy-duty engines, and in 1957 introduced the Series 53 and Series 71 engines for both on-highway and off-road use.

1960’s – GM Diesel also began to focus on developing a worldwide distribution network of independent, authorized distributors and dealers to provide parts and service.

1965 – GM Diesel became Detroit Diesel Engine Division. Then, five years later, General Motors consolidated the company with the closely allied transmissionand gas turbine businesses of the Allison Division — forming the Detroit Diesel Allison Division.

1987 – The Series 60^® — the four-cycle heavy-duty engine that would become the signature of Detroit Diesel — was introduced as the first production engine with integrated electronic controls as a standard feature. The Series 60 was developed to meet the demand for cleaner and more fuel-efficient heavy-duty engines, and quickly become the most popular, heavy-duty diesel engine in the North American Class 8 truck market.

1988 – On January 1, 1988, a joint venture between Penske Corp.and General Motors created Detroit Diesel, the successor to the heavy-duty diesel engine business of the Detroit Diesel Allison Division.

1993 – In October 1993, Detroit Diesel had grown in on-highway heavy-duty market share to 33% from 3% only a few years earlier. The company also completed a successful initial public offering of common stock, becoming a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock symbol “DDC.”

2000 – In October, DaimlerChrysler, the world’s leading manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel truck engines, completed a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Detroit Diesel.