Mack Trucks unveiled on Jan. 30 its MD Series, an all-new line of medium-duty trucks.
During a ceremony in Salem, Va., that included Gov. Ralph Northham, Mack also announced a $13 million investment to establish its Roanoke Valley Operations manufacturing facility.
Northam approved a $700,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the project, which is expected to create 250 new jobs.
"Mack Trucks is very proud to make this investment and to now offer a full lineup of Class 6 to Class 8 commercial vehicles, serving virtually every segment of the market,” said Martin Weissburg, president of Mack Trucks. “With this investment, Mack is well-positioned for future success, and we’re taking orders for the new truck beginning today.”
Serial production of the MD Series is scheduled to begin in July. Mack’s investment is being used for equipment, tooling and building enhancements in the facility dedicated to the assembly of Mack’s new medium-duty vehicles.
“Already providing our customers a full product lineup of Class 8 vehicles, which includes straight trucks and cabover platforms, the Mack MD Series expands even further the solutions available to our customers,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack’s senior vice president of North American sales and marketing.
The Class 6 model - the MD6 - has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 25,995 lbs., while the MD7 has a GVWR of 33,000 lbs. The MD6 does not require a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate for non-hazardous payloads.
The MD Series is available in 4x2 configurations. The MD6 and MD7 feature a sharp wheel cut for enhanced maneuverability for tough urban settings.
The cab design features a short bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) measurement of 103 inches.
