When Detroit returns to the medium-duty engine segment later this year, Kary Schaefer will be leading the way. Daimler Trucks North America announced that the former design engineer is the new GM of marketing and strategy for both Detroit and Freightliner Trucks.
Kary SchaeferLast fall, Daimler Trucks announced a $375 million investment into production facilities for the new DD5 and DD8 engines that are expected to first be made available by the end of this year, with a full rollout scheduled for 2018.
Schaefer has been with Daimler Trucks since 1995 and most recently served as GM of the Enhanced Platform program for vocational products. In a statement, the company added that Schaefer will continue in that role in addition to her new position with the Detroit and Freightliner brands.
“Kary’s proven experience is perfectly aligned with our organizational vision of maintaining our leadership position through innovation and product achievement,” said Richard Howard, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Daimler Tucks. “Kary’s keen understanding of our industry, business and products will be instrumental to delivering our message our dealers and customers.”
Schaefer was named chief engineer in 2008 and lead the cab engineering department, where she oversaw innovations to improve fuel efficiency. She led similar programs for the Freightliner Argosy Evolution, Freightliner 108SD and 1145D, the Western Star 4700, and the new Western Star interior, which Daimler Trucks said impacted the entire Western Star product line.
