About Demand Detroit
We are an industry-leading manufacturer of engines, axles, transmissions, telematics and safety products for Freightliner and Western Star on-highway and vocational trucks. We are proudly headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, the automotive heartland of North America.
Founded in 1938 as the GM Diesel Division, we have a long history of innovation. Our first engine, the Series 70, was used in tanks and landing craft in World War II. GM Diesel received the Army-Navy "E" award for contributions to the war effort.
We began developing engines for on-highway trucks in the 1950s. By 1970, we had picked up the name Detroit and tripled our sales as the North American trucking industry grew. The Series 60 engine, introduced in 1987, quickly became the most popular heavy-duty diesel engine in the North American Class 8 truck market.
In 2000, we were acquired by DaimlerChrysler and became a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America. In recent years, we have expanded our product offerings to include axles, transmissions, safety products, and telematics products.
Today, you can find the complete line of Detroit products in DTNA truck brands Freightliner and Western Star. Our products are supported by a parts and distribution network of over 800 locations across North America.
Industry leading innovation and technology are the guiding principals that will keep our products running smoothly for many years to come. We invite you to join us on our journey to deliver the best products possible for our customers.
Quality Built In Rigorous Testing on the Factory Floor
Every Detroit™ component that leaves the line goes through rigorous testing to make sure it performs to the highest standards. For engines, that means dyno testing every engine for pressure, temperature and flow. For axles, it’s measuring and ensuring gear fit and alloy strength. We’re the only heavy-duty component manufacturer to operate this way.
At Detroit, we take quality seriously, beginning with our quality feedback loop philosophy. It ensures constant communication from the design process all the way to the customers’ experiences, incorporating a total of seven quality feedback loops. Our engineers spend countless hours designing, developing and analyzing every aspect of our engines and axles. As a result, our components deliver unprecedented fuel economy, performance and serviceability.
