Paccar held a groundbreaking ceremony January 9, 2012 for its new DAF assembly plant in Ponta Grossa, Brazil. The ceremony, led by Mark Pigott, Paccar chairman and chief executive officer, and Paraná Governor Beto Richa, was attended by state and local officials, supplier partners, transport companies, and other business and educational leaders.
“This new DAF assembly facility is a strategically important development for PACCAR,” said Pigott. “The $200 million facility will consist of a 300,000-square-foot assembly plant on a 569-acre site in the city of Ponta Grossa, in the state of Paraná. Construction will begin immediately and is due to be completed in 2013. Ponta Grossa has an excellent workforce and proximity to strategic supplier partners and the port of Paranaguá.”
The high-technology and environmentally friendly facility is designed to assemble DAF XF, CF, and LF vehicles and the Paccar MX engine. It will produce DAF trucks for Brazil and the entire Latin American market. DAF trucks will be distributed through a network of independent dealers.
“We appreciate the support of the State of Paraná and Ponta Grossa leaders, and we look forward to developing strong partnerships with the local community,” said Marco Davila, president DAF Caminhões. “We are pleased to be working closely with Ponta Grossa State University, Paraná Federal Technology University, and other technical colleges in the region. As DAF production levels increase, we expect to hire up to 500 employees.”