It was not a coincidence that we saw Kamaz using Liebherr engines during the Dakar rally. Construction vehicle manufacturer Liebherr announced a joint engine development with Russian vehicle manufacturer Kamaz for the development and manufacturing of a range of six-cylinder inline diesel engines of 12 litre displacement, just before the rally started.
Liebherr explained that the engines are tailored to meet specific requirements from Kamaz and are adapted for use in Kamaz trucks and special vehicles for the oil and gas industry. They will be available in four performance categories, the company said, but it was not revealed how much power these engines will generate.
The engines will comply with emissions directives of Euro 5 and 6 and be equipped with common rail injection and engine control units from Liebherr. Along with the diesel versions, Liebherr said it will also offer a CNG engine for mobile vehicles and buses based on the jointly developed engine.
The two companies signed a contract that includes a complete solution for the construction of an engine production and assembly line on the premises of Kamaz as well as respective quality assurance within Kamaz’s production. The Russian truck manufacturer already buys engines from shareholder Mercedes-Benz.