Global truck manufacturer Daimler Trucks has announced it is creating a new global organisation focusing on e-mobility that includes a new leadership function. It is opening a research centre in the US for automated vehicle research.

Daimler Benz’s US subsidiary Freightliner has unveiled two new fully electric trucks. The Freightliner eCascadia is a long distance, heavy duty vehicle while the medium fully electric segment will be served by the Freightliner eM2 106.

Martin Daum, member of the Daimler Board of Management for Trucks and Buses, said: “With the formation of our new global E-Mobility Group, we will maximize the impact of our investments in this key strategic technology. Thus, we can pursue the best solutions in batteries, charging solutions and energy management.”

Regarding the Automated Truck Research & Development Centre in Portland, Oregon, Daum said: “Automated driving offers enormous advantages in the logistics business, with the potential to mitigate the shortage of truck drivers around the world. From a technological point of view, there is still a long way to go until trucks can drive fully autonomously. Automated vehicles must be as safe as possible. We are putting all our effort into this at Daimler Trucks. Our new research and development centre is an important milestone on this road. We are strengthening our efforts in this area to leverage synergies in the development of these key technologies across the globe.”