PORTLAND, Ore. (December 17, 2025) — Freightliner, a brand of Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), announced today that its Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia has been recognized as a 2025 Red Dot Design Award winner. This globally respected award identifies industry leaders currently excelling in product design – an acknowledgement reserved for products that are aesthetically appealing, functional, sustainable and innovative, all united by exceptional design.

From the earliest sketches, the Fifth Generation Cascadia’s design journey was shaped by the close collaboration between DTNA’s designers and engineers. Working in tandem, they blended functionality, aerodynamics, and visual appeal into the next evolution of the Cascadia. Drawing inspiration from the natural movement of wind and air, the team introduced a fresh approach to aerodynamic design.

“To create a design that truly looks shaped by the wind, we drew inspiration from the Pacific Northwest mountains. During heavy snowstorms, the wind forms sharp, sculptural snowdrifts that reveal how it naturally moves. We aimed to bring that same wind-shaped form language into the Cascadia to express ultimate efficiency,” said Jeff Cotner, chief designer at DTNA. “The result is exceptional performance and a clean, simple form that resonates with the viewer.”

Freightliner, North America’s industry-leading commercial vehicle brand, has been well recognized for its innovative technologies and efficiency since its start in 1942. Based in Portland, Oregon, DTNA’s Design Center Studio is where engineering and design meet. Powered by a team of highly experienced designers, surface modelers, fabricators, and studio engineers, this is where ideas are transformed into tangible, cutting-edge products that comprise DTNA’s commercial vehicle portfolio.

This close collaboration is evident in features like the Cascadia’s redesigned hood, A-pillar deflectors and wheel-well closeouts – each shaped through iterative design and engineering work. It also shows up in details like the new Dual Stage Intelligent LED Headlights, which were engineered and designed to increase durability, melt away ice and eliminate condensation while delivering a wider beam pattern to enhance driver visibility.

“Innovation has always been in Freightliner’s DNA,” said Martin Kreidl, design director at DTNA. “Winning the Red Dot Design Award underscores our continued commitment to elevating the brand. While we were tasked with finding new ways to express Freightliner’s identity, we were also building on generations of design excellence as our foundation and creating a cohesive product that strengthened our identity.”

The Cascadia’s Red Dot Design Award win validates more than a single milestone but a longstanding mission that has defined Freightliner for generations. As DTNA and Freightliner continue to elevate technology and design, at the core of these efforts is a commitment to making transport efficiency, safety, and profitability a number one priority. Whether it’s enhanced aerodynamics, inspiring design or powertrain integration technologies, this mission shows clear in all Freightliner vehicles, including the award-winning Cascadia.

About Freightliner
Freightliner Trucks is a brand of Daimler Truck North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With 80 years of experience, Freightliner produces and markets medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks as the leading heavy-duty truck brand in North America. DTNA is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

About Daimler Truck North America
Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in North America and a leading provider of innovative products, services, and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. DTNA designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and related technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. As a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, DTNA is dedicated to delivering exceptional value and support to its customers - helping them keep the world moving.