[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6137-S6138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 80th 
anniversary of Detroit Diesel Corporation, a subsidiary of Daimler 
Trucks North America in Detroit, MI. I appreciate the opportunity to 
speak about this truly significant milestone in the history of the 
Detroit brand, as well as speak to the importance of this anniversary 
to the greater legacy of Detroit as the ``Motor City.''
  Established by General Motors in 1938, as the General Motors Diesel 
Division, Detroit Diesel produced the company's flagship engine, the 
two-cycle Series 71 engine or ``two stroke.'' The two-stroke engine was 
introduced as a

[[Page S6138]]

cylinder inline engine and in a V-configuration in 1957.
  Detroit Diesel played an important role during World War II as an 
essential contributor in the U.S. ``Arsenal of Democracy,'' 
manufacturing engines for the Allied forces. These engines were used 
for construction equipment, power generation, agriculture, and military 
operations.
  In 1955, Detroit Diesel evolved to meet the demands of the commercial 
trucking market. Introduced in 1957, the Series 53 engine was GM 
Diesel's first heavy-duty engine. The powerful Series 53 engine was 
made for multiple applications in various industries. It has powered 
the American timber industry, propelling logging skidders through deep, 
dense woods. The Series 53 became an indispensable tool on construction 
sites all over the United States and around the globe. With greater 
sophistication and power, building from the simple two-stroke Series 71 
of 1938, the Series 53's heavy-duty capabilities provided operators 
with the muscle needed to break ground in many infrastructure projects 
through the United States. The Series 53 engine's versatility has been 
trusted for years in the aviation industry to haul packages and tow 
planes, and has been relied on to safely transport our troops on 
unforgiving terrain.
  In 1965, General Motors Detroit Diesel consolidated into the Detroit 
Diesel Engine Division and introduced the Series 149 engine, which 
would be used to power tugboats and mine haul trucks. Over the next 20 
years, the Detroit Diesel Engine Division combined with General Motors' 
Allison Division, becoming the Detroit Diesel Allison Division. From 
the mid to late 1960s to the late 1980s, the Detroit Diesel Allison 
Division would continue to innovate and strengthen its position as a 
leader in the field. During this time, the division created and 
introduced the Series 92, which would increase its capabilities in 
marine transportation. In the 1980s, Detroit Diesel Allison would hit 
yet another milestone: producing its first four-cylinder engine.
  In 1987, Detroit Diesel introduced the heavy-duty, four-cylinder 
Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine. The Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine is 
known for its fuel efficiency as a heavy-duty engine. As the company's 
namesake, it would become one of its most well-known engines.
  In 1987, General Motors partnered with another Michigan brand, Penske 
Corporation, and created the Detroit Diesel Corporation. As Detroit 
Diesel Corporation, the company experienced exponential growth in the 
on-highway market from the late 1980s to the late 1990s, up until 
Detroit Diesel Corporation was acquired by Daimler Chrysler in 2000, 
where they became a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC.
  In addition to cementing Michigan as an industry leader throughout 
the Nation and world, Detroit Diesel Corporation, now known as the 
Detroit brand, powers economic and community development through its 
network of more than 800 locations throughout North America. In 2005, 
Detroit Diesel Corporation invested millions of dollars in expanding 
engine production in Michigan through its Renaissance project. The 
Detroit brand launched another major investment in Detroit in 2012; 
both initiatives have created thousands of jobs for hard-working 
families in Michigan.
  As much as Detroit Diesel Corporation is the Detroit brand, at its 
very core, it is America's brand. I applaud its commitment to creating 
quality cutting-edge technology, ensuring that Michigan, as well as the 
United States, continues to be at the driver's seat of innovation as 
the automotive capital of the world. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Detroit Diesel Corporation on its longevity and the 
immense impact it has made on communities here at home in Michigan and 
across the country. I wish Detroit Diesel Corporation many more decades 
of success.

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