Visitors tour Daimler Coach's new U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville after its opening Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
Published on February 11, 2026 at 3:11 pm
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Daimler Coaches North America, a major German bus manufacturer, has opened its U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville, calling the 11-acre site its “first real footprint in the U.S.”
CEO Dietrich Müller said the 43,000-square-foot building is large enough to park more than 100 of the 45-foot-long, 12-foot-tall buses. Daimler aims to process and sell about 300 or more of their huge Tourrider motor coaches annually, Müller said.
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The Westside facility includes administrative offices, pre-delivery inspection, a dedicated training and delivery center for customers and service partners, and a huge repair, maintenance and service center.
Daimler Coaches is the bus division of Daimler Truck AG, a 125-year-old company that produces buses for city and intercity uses as well as long-distance motorcoaches under the Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands for sale in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Müller said Daimler picked Jacksonville for multiple reasons, including the proximity to ports, proximity to important customers and the fact that Florida is one of few states that allow direct vehicle sales to customers.
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Daimler sells by dealing with customers directly, not through dealers.
The three-axle motorcoach has 56 to 60 passenger seats depending on the configuration, powered by a 12.8-liter, 6-cylinder Mercedes-Benz diesel engine with 450 horsepower. The buses can cost a half-million dollars or more depending on equipment and are specifically designed for the North American market by Daimler Buses.
Built in Hoşdere, Turkey, they are shipped to the Mercedes-Benz facility at the Brunswick port, then driven to the new headquarters.
Müller and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan cut a ribbon Tuesday to open the new headquarters. Müller said the headquarters was built in only 10 months.
“It really is a dream for us, and we are now making out first real footprint, our own footprint, into the United States and the state of Florida,” Müller said. “It sends a message and it is an ambition for us to really work fast, work hard, and work together in the best possible way for you, for our coaches and for the U.S, market. That’s our ambition.”
The site has room for expansion. Müller said the company hopes one day to ship the buses to JaxPort instead Brunswick.
Deegan noted that Daimler Coaches North America joins other German companies like Holon, which is set to break ground soon on Florida’s first autonomous vehicle factory.
“We love that you moved fast, and we want to keep doing that,” Deegan said. “But we love the long-term commitment. You have agreed to a capital investment of more than $100 million here, and that is enormous for our community.”
City Council member Randy White said Daimler will have a positive impact on his district.
“There is a lot of growth in District 12, as we know, and it continues,” White said. “We are so proud to have them here. It will be a big employer, has a great product.”
