Daimler Truck to Lay Off 573 Workers in Gaston County Amid Industry Slowdown

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Daimler Truck North America will temporarily lay off approximately 2,000 employees at five production sites due to continued instability in the freight market, the company announced in a statement.

The layoffs will impact employees at facilities in Mount Holly and Gastonia, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; Portland, Oregon; and Saltillo, Mexico. The company cited a sustained reduction in orders and diminished build rates as the primary cause.

In North Carolina, 573 employees at the Mount Holly plant will be affected. These workers will continue to receive regular wages through September 9, 2025, despite the work stoppage. Layoffs at Mount Holly and Portland are scheduled for July 18, while Gastonia layoffs are expected on July 25. The Detroit facility will implement layoffs on September 18, according to a company spokesperson on July 15.

Although labeled temporary, Daimler said the duration of the layoffs remains uncertain. The impacted Mount Holly site sits near Mountain Island Lake and the Catawba River and is one of several Daimler locations across the Carolinas, including Charlotte, Cleveland, High Point, Fort Mill, and York.

Daimler Truck is among the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, employing more than 100,000 workers globally. Its brands include Freightliner, Western Star, Mercedes-Benz, and Thomas Built Buses.

Daimler Truck Financial Services USA recently announced plans to move its entire U.S. headquarters to Charlotte, bringing 276 new jobs and more than $7.8 million in investment to Mecklenburg County.

The new Mecklenburg County jobs will average $133,940 annually—well above the county’s $86,830 average—and generate a projected $36.9 million in payroll impact.