Dina

DINA Camiones, historically known as Diesel Nacional or DINA, is a Mexican commercial-vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Ciudad Sahagún, Hidalgo. The company was established by the Mexican federal government in 1951 to develop domestic capability in diesel engines, trucks and buses. It initially relied on manufacturing and technical agreements with international vehicle companies, but over time developed its own product families and became one of Mexico's most important heavy-vehicle producers. DINA began production through a 1952 agreement with Fiat. The relationship produced truck tractors and several passenger cars before ending in 1960 because the vehicles were considered too costly to manufacture. The company then moved more decisively toward buses, entering a licensing arrangement with Flxible in 1961. This led to Mexican versions of the Flxible Hi-Level and Flxliner, sold as the DINA 311 and DINA Olímpico. During the 1960s and 1970s, Mexican import restrictions and local-content policies protected domestic vehicle production and helped DINA expand its position in the national market. The company broadened its industrial base through engine production, truck assembly, body-building relationships and technology agreements. It produced Cummins engines under license, acquired a majority interest in Mexican Perkins operations, assembled pickup trucks through Maquiladora Automotriz Nacional, and worked with domestic body manufacturers such as CASA, CATOSA and CAPRE. Its truck and bus operations also benefited from cooperation with Navistar, Chrysler, Caterpillar, Marcopolo, MCI, Spicer, Eaton, Dana and other suppliers or technology partners. During the 1970s and 1980s, DINA became one of the dominant forces in Mexico's bus and truck industry. Its product portfolio included freight trucks, bus chassis, intercity coaches and urban buses. The company introduced Navistar-related truck models and developed bus products such as the DINA Avante, Dorado and Avante Plus. However, the economic crisis of the 1980s, aging industrial assets, labor and operating inefficiencies, and the gradual dismantling of state ownership weakened the business. The Mexican government began divesting DINA's operating companies, and in 1989 the industrial group was acquired by Consorcio Grupo G, associated with the Gómez Flores family. Following privatization, DINA pursued international expansion and deeper partnerships. It worked with Marcopolo to manufacture Paradiso and Viaggio coach bodies and acquired Motor Coach Industries facilities to support North American ambitions. It also established operations in Argentina under the DIMEX name and developed a new HTQ, or High Technology and Quality, range with assistance from Design Works, MCII and Roush Industries. The program was intended to give DINA a more modern, proprietary truck platform. The company's most severe modern crisis followed the cancellation of a major Western Star Trucks program after Western Star was acquired by Freightliner. The contract had contemplated production of thousands of trucks for the North American market, but only a fraction were ultimately produced. Labor disputes, restructuring, layoffs and legal action followed. DINA's truck plant was shuttered in 2001, and the business underwent substantial downsizing and restructuring. The state of Hidalgo subsequently acquired the former plant facilities, while the Argentine operation was later sold. DINA returned to bus manufacturing in the 2000s. After developing new chassis and testing prototypes based partly on HTQ technology, it announced a restart in 2008 with the Linner, Runner, Picker and Outsider urban-bus models. Later products included the gas-powered Linner G and the Hustler tractor-truck for container movement in commercial ports. In its current form, DINA is primarily associated with buses for urban, domestic and international applications, while retaining truck and transport-equipment capabilities. Its history reflects Mexico's transition from state-led industrialization and import protection to private ownership, international partnerships and specialized commercial-vehicle production.

DINA was created in 1951 as Diesel Nacional by the Mexican federal government. Its purpose was to establish a domestic industrial base for diesel engines, trucks and buses. A manufacturing and technical-assistance agreement with Fiat in 1952 brought the first assembled truck tractors and passenger cars. The Fiat relationship ended in 1960, after production costs made the arrangement commercially difficult. DINA then concentrated increasingly on commercial vehicles. A 1961 agreement with Flxible allowed it to build licensed bus designs in Mexico, including models that became known locally as the DINA 311 and DINA Olímpico. Import barriers and local-content requirements introduced during the 1960s protected Mexican vehicle manufacturers, supporting DINA's growth. The company added engine production, including Cummins engines, and acquired a majority position in Mexican Perkins operations. Through the 1970s it also worked with local body manufacturers and created a pickup-truck assembly business using International and Perkins technology. In the 1970s and 1980s, DINA became a central participant in Mexico's heavy-vehicle market. Its operations covered buses, trucks, engines, plastics and related manufacturing activities. Partnerships with Navistar produced truck programs based on International technology, while a later General Motors relationship supported vehicle manufacturing and exports. DINA Autobuses achieved a sales peak during the 1980s, and the company expanded its bus range with products including the Olímpico, Avante, Dorado and Avante Plus. The economic crisis of the 1980s exposed weaknesses in the state-owned structure. Declining investment, outdated equipment and restructuring across the Mexican automotive industry led to the sale or closure of several DINA companies. The government divested the group between 1987 and 1989, ending 38 years of federal control. Consorcio Grupo G acquired the remaining truck, engine, plastics and bus operations in 1989. Under private ownership, DINA pursued internationalization. It retained or developed relationships with Navistar, Marcopolo, Caterpillar and other suppliers. A Marcopolo agreement supported the production of Paradiso and Viaggio coach bodies for Mexico and export markets. Grupo G also acquired Motor Coach Industries facilities in Canada and the United States, seeking to strengthen access to the North American bus market. In Argentina, DINA established an assembly operation that became DIMEX and later produced its own HTQ truck range. DINA's HTQ program represented an attempt to move from licensed or partner-derived products toward a more proprietary commercial-vehicle architecture. The platform was developed with contributions from Design Works, a BMW subsidiary, MCII and Roush Industries. New bus and truck designs were introduced in the late 1990s, but the company's expansion was undermined by the collapse of its intended Western Star program. After Freightliner acquired Western Star, the planned production of approximately 9,000 trucks for the North American market was cancelled, with only a limited number completed. DINA entered a period of strikes, layoffs, litigation and financial restructuring. The Mexican truck plant was closed in 2001, and the company was downsized. The state of Hidalgo acquired the former Ciudad Sahagún facilities in 2002. DINA's Argentine plant was later sold, and the legal dispute connected to the Western Star agreement was ultimately resolved, although the settlement amount was not publicly disclosed in the referenced material. Beginning in 2004, DINA developed a new generation of passenger-vehicle products using HTQ-related technology and applicable national and international standards. Prototype testing began in 2007, followed by the construction and equipping of a new facility in Ciudad Sahagún. In 2008 the company relaunched bus manufacturing with the Linner, Runner, Picker and Outsider urban models. It subsequently expanded into gas-powered urban buses with the Linner G and introduced the Hustler tractor-truck for port container operations. DINA's modern identity is therefore primarily that of a Mexican bus manufacturer with additional truck and transport-equipment capabilities. Its history combines state-led industrial development, protected domestic production, privatization, technology licensing, international expansion, a major restructuring crisis and renewed specialization in buses. The company continues to operate from Hidalgo and serves Mexican transport operators as well as selected foreign markets.

• 2011

  Hustler launched

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  The company introduces the Hustler tractor-truck for commercial-port container transport.

• 2010

  Linner G launched

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA introduces a gas-powered version of its Linner urban bus.

• 2008

  Bus manufacturing restarts

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA returns to the market with the Linner, Runner, Picker and Outsider urban buses.

• 2007

  New bus prototypes tested

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA completes prototypes based on HTQ technology and begins road testing before a production restart.

• 2001

  Truck plant closure

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  The Ciudad Sahagún truck plant closes amid the Western Star dispute, labor conflict and restructuring.

• 1997

  Argentine operation and proprietary designs

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA opens an assembly operation in Argentina and introduces new Mexican-designed bus and truck products.

• 1992

  Marcopolo agreement

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA begins a commercial and technological relationship with Marcopolo to produce coach bodies for the Mexican and export markets.

• 1989

  Privatization

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  Consorcio Grupo G acquires DINA's principal industrial operations from the Mexican government.

• 1987

  DINA Avante introduced

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  The D-350 G-7 bus enters the market and later becomes known as the DINA Avante.

• 1981

  Navistar technology cooperation

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA and Navistar enter a technology cooperation arrangement that supports new truck models.

• 1973

  Perkins stake acquired

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA acquires a majority interest in Mexican Perkins operations.

• 1968

  Cummins engine production begins

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  Mexican production of Cummins NT and NH engines begins under an industrial agreement.

• 1961

  Flxible licensing partnership

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA receives rights to build Flxible bus designs in Mexico, leading to the DINA 311 and Olímpico.

• 1956

  First DINA bus production

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  Passenger transport production expands with the DINA 682 RN bus.

• 1952

  Fiat manufacturing agreement

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  DINA begins manufacturing and assembling Fiat-derived vehicles, including truck tractors and passenger cars.

• 1951

  Diesel Nacional is established

  [1]DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org

  The Mexican federal government creates Diesel Nacional to build domestic capability in diesel engines, trucks and buses.

A Mexican commercial-vehicle manufacturer centered on buses and transport solutions, combining locally developed platforms with international engineering, component and body-building partnerships.

• Bus · 1961

  DINA Olímpico

  A licensed bus design derived from Flxible technology and adapted for Mexican production. The Olímpico became one of DINA's best-known bus products during the period when the company was expanding its domestic passenger-transport business.

• Intercity bus · 1987

  DINA Avante

  Introduced in the late 1980s as the D-350 G-7 and later marketed as the Avante, this bus combined a newer DINA body concept with design influences from earlier Flxible-derived products. Related versions included the Dorado and Avante Plus.

• Urban bus · 2008

  DINA Linner

  One of the urban buses used to relaunch DINA's Mexican production in 2008. The Linner was intended for city transport operators and formed the basis for the later Linner G alternative-fuel variant.

• Urban bus · 2008

  DINA Runner

  An urban bus introduced as part of DINA's post-restructuring product range. It was developed for public-transport applications in Mexico and other markets served by the company.

• Urban bus · 2008

  DINA Picker

  A member of the four-model urban-bus lineup launched during DINA's 2008 restart. It extended the company's renewed focus on practical city and public-transport vehicles.

• Bus · 2008

  DINA Outsider

  An urban-oriented bus introduced alongside the Linner, Runner and Picker when DINA resumed commercial production. It belongs to the company's modern bus portfolio developed after the early-2000s restructuring.

• Gas-powered urban bus · 2010

  DINA Linner G

  A gas-powered derivative of the Linner introduced for urban transport. Its development reflects DINA's effort to broaden propulsion options for city fleets and public-transport operators.

• Terminal tractor-truck · 2011

  DINA Hustler

  A specialized tractor-truck introduced for container movement in commercial ports. The Hustler gave DINA a product aimed at controlled-site logistics rather than conventional long-haul freight.

• 2008

  Restart bus productionProduct launch

  Background

  DINA had completed new prototypes and rebuilt production capability at Ciudad Sahagún.

  Action taken

  The company launched the Linner, Runner, Picker and Outsider urban buses.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch established buses as the core of DINA's modern product strategy.

  Source

• 2004

  Develop a new passenger-vehicle platformStrategy

  Background

  After restructuring, DINA needed a product strategy that could support a smaller and more focused business.

  Action taken

  The company began designing new passenger vehicles based on HTQ technology and applicable Mexican and international standards.

  Aftermath

  Prototype testing led to the return of DINA-branded buses in 2008.

  Source

• 2001

  Restructure after Western Star contract lossStrategy

  Background

  The cancellation of the planned North American truck program caused a major disruption to DINA's production, workforce and finances.

  Action taken

  DINA downsized its truck operations, entered financial restructuring, reduced its industrial footprint and pursued legal remedies against Western Star.

  Aftermath

  The truck plant closed, the Hidalgo government acquired the facilities, and DINA later refocused on bus production.

  Source

• 1989

  Accept privatization by Grupo GM&A

  Background

  The Mexican government was liquidating and selling parts of the state-owned DINA group after economic difficulties and reduced investment capacity.

  Action taken

  Consorcio Grupo G acquired the principal truck, engine, plastics and bus operations, ending federal control.

  Aftermath

  DINA pursued international partnerships, exports and acquisitions under private ownership.

  Source

1. 1DINA S.A.en.wikipedia.org
2. 2DINA official websitedina.com.mx