PORTLAND, Ore. — Freightliner Trucks is introducing its Business Class M2 line of medium-duty and vocational trucks to the Mexico market this summer.

As a result, production at the company’s Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico manufacturing plant will be ramped up to meet the increased demand. About $20 million will be invested in the plan to accommodate the increased production rate.

“Freightliner Trucks is very pleased to continue the highly successful roll-out of the Business Class M2 product line with our much-anticipated introduction of the new truck to the Mexico market,” says Mark Lampert, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Freightliner Trucks. “The original Business Class was very well-received in Mexico and we expect our Mexican customers to embrace the successor Business Class M2 as well.”

The trucks were originally introduced to the U.S. and Canada markets in 2002, and the company says they’ve been well-received by the marketplace. In Mexico, it’s expected the trucks will be popular in applications such as local and regional distribution, food and beverage delivery, fire and emergency services and towing and recovery applications.

“Customer reception to the new Business Class M2 truck line has been extraordinary across the U.S. and Canada,” says Lampert. “With the Santiago plant’s proven record of building high quality commercial vehicles, we foresee excellent acceptance among Mexican customers. We expect to gain market share in Mexico and anticipate having to increase output at the Santiago plant even further.”