PONTA GROSSA, Brazil – PACCAR held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new DAF assembly plant in Ponta Grossa, Brazil on Monday, Jan. 9. The ceremony, led by Mark Pigott, PACCAR chairman and CEO, and Parana Governor Beto Richa, was attended by state and local officials, supplier partners, key transport companies and other business and educational leaders. 
“This new DAF assembly facility is a strategically important development for PACCAR,” said Mark 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 Parana. 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 Paranagua.”
The high-tech, environmentally friendly facility is designed to assemble the premium quality DAF XF, CF and LF vehicles and the industry-leading PACCAR MX engine, the company says. It will produce DAF trucks for Brazil and the entire Latin American market. The DAF trucks will be distributed through a network of independent DAF dealers.
As production levels increase, PACCAR expects to hire 500 employees at the plant.
