Daimler Truck North America Selects Allison's FuelSense® 2.0 Neutral at Stop Technology for Freightliner and Western Star Trucks

Rhea-AI Summary

Allison Transmission (ALSN) announced that Daimler Truck North America has standardized Allison's FuelSense® 2.0 Neutral at Stop technology for Freightliner and Western Star trucks. The technology will be implemented in multiple truck models including Freightliner M2 106 Plus, 108SD Plus, 114SD Plus, EconicSD, and Western Star 47X and 49X.

The Neutral at Stop feature, exclusively available with Allison transmissions, reduces fuel consumption and emissions by minimizing or eliminating engine load when vehicles are stopped. As part of Allison's FuelSense 2.0 technology suite, it delivers fuel savings of up to 6% while maintaining quality, reliability, durability, and productivity.

Positive

• Strategic partnership with major truck manufacturer Daimler expanding market reach
• Technology becoming standard feature on multiple truck models, increasing revenue potential
• Demonstrated fuel efficiency improvement of up to 6% with FuelSense 2.0 technology

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Daimler Truck North America's standardization of Allison's FuelSense 2.0 Neutral at Stop technology represents a significant commercial win for Allison Transmission. This isn't merely a one-off sale but rather the standardization across six truck models from one of North America's largest commercial vehicle manufacturers.

The strategic value lies in the exclusive nature of this feature – available only on Allison transmissions – creating an effective competitive moat and potential market share expansion. While specific financial projections aren't provided, the standardization across Freightliner M2 106 Plus, 108SD Plus, 114SD Plus, EconicSD, and Western Star 47X and 49X models suggests meaningful volume potential.

The technology's 6% fuel efficiency improvement addresses a critical pain point for commercial fleet operators, where fuel typically represents 30-40% of operating costs. This tangible economic benefit strengthens Allison's value proposition and potentially its pricing power in the competitive transmission market.

This agreement further entrenches Allison's position with a key customer and creates additional barriers to entry for competitors. The standardization validates Allison's technology strategy of embedding value-added features into their core transmission products to maintain premium positioning and customer loyalty in the commercial vehicle powertrain market.

Automotive Engineer

Allison's FuelSense 2.0 Neutral at Stop technology addresses a significant efficiency opportunity in heavy-duty trucking operations. When commercial vehicles idle at traffic lights or in congestion, conventional transmissions typically maintain engine load, unnecessarily burning fuel. By automatically shifting to neutral during stops, this technology eliminates this parasitic loss without compromising responsiveness when movement resumes.

The 6% fuel savings cited is technically meaningful in commercial transportation, where fleets typically measure efficiency improvements in tenths of a percent when evaluating technology investments. This represents substantial operational cost reduction over a vehicle's service life.

The standardization across diverse vehicle platforms including both Freightliner and Western Star brands demonstrates the technology's adaptability across different duty cycles. Particularly noteworthy is implementation in specialized vehicles like the EconicSD, suggesting robust performance even in demanding applications with frequent stop-start cycles typical in urban delivery or refuse collection.

That Daimler has made this standard rather than optional equipment indicates confidence in both the technology's reliability and its value proposition to end customers. This widespread adoption by a major OEM validates Allison's engineering approach and suggests the real-world benefits are compelling without compromising the performance characteristics commercial operators demand.

INDIANAPOLIS, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allison Transmission today announced that Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) has standardized Allison's FuelSense^® 2.0 Neutral at Stop technology for Freightliner and Western Star trucks. This feature is exclusively available on trucks equipped with Allison transmissions. Neutral at Stop, designed to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions by reducing or eliminating the load on the engine when the vehicle is stopped, will be added to Freightliner M2 106 Plus,108SD Plus, 114SD Plus and EconicSD, as well as Western Star 47X and 49X models.

"By offering the Allison's Neutral at Stop technology in our trucks, we will support fleets in their efforts to reduce fuel consumption and emissions," said Mary Aufdemberg, general manager of, Daimler Truck North America LLC. "The functionality will particularly benefit our customers that operate in demanding duty-cycles that have frequent stop-start needs."

Neutral at Stop reduces unnecessary fuel consumption when vehicles are idle. By minimizing or eliminating engine load at stops, this feature conserves fuel that would otherwise be wasted. Whether vehicles are in traffic or at a red light, Neutral at Stop ensures that fuel is used strictly for movement, not for idling, thereby enhancing overall fuel efficiency.

"Allison is committed to delivering solutions for fleets that improve fuel economy and reduce emissions without sacrificing performance," said Rohan Barua, Vice President North America Sales, Global Channel and Aftermarket at Allison Transmission. "We're pleased to partner with DTNA to make this innovative solution, a standard offering for their customers."

The Neutral at Stop feature is available as part of Allison's FuelSense 2.0 technology suite, which uses a unique set of software and electronic controls to deliver quantifiable fuel savings of up to 6%, all while maintaining the traditional Allison advantages of quality, reliability, durability and productivity.

Visit AllisonTransmission.com for more information on FuelSense 2.0 and Neutral at Stop.

About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is a leading designer and manufacturer of propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles and the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions that Improve the Way the World Works. Allison products are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway vehicles (distribution, refuse, construction, agriculture, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defense vehicles (tactical wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. With a presence in more than 150 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil, manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary and India, as well as global engineering resources, including electrification engineering centers in Indianapolis, Indiana, Auburn Hills, Michigan and London in the United Kingdom. Allison also has approximately 1,600 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.

 

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SOURCE Allison Transmission, Inc.

FAQ

What fuel savings can be achieved with Allison's FuelSense 2.0 technology in ALSN equipped trucks?

Allison's FuelSense 2.0 technology suite delivers quantifiable fuel savings of up to 6% while maintaining performance and reliability.

Which Daimler truck models will feature ALSN's Neutral at Stop technology?

The technology will be added to Freightliner M2 106 Plus, 108SD Plus, 114SD Plus, EconicSD, Western Star 47X and 49X models.

How does ALSN's Neutral at Stop technology reduce fuel consumption?

The technology reduces or eliminates engine load when vehicles are stopped, ensuring fuel is used only for movement and not wasted during idling.

What are the main benefits of ALSN's Neutral at Stop feature for fleet operators?

The feature reduces fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, particularly benefiting fleets with frequent stop-start operations.