Mack Trucks Rolls into the Roanoke Valley

An iconic American brand, Mack Trucks has provided purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Marck is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and a major Virginia employer through its 1.6-million-square-foot plant in Pulaski County, which serves as the largest manufacturer of Volvo tractor-trailer trucks in the world. 

So in 2019, when Mack decided to launch a new line of medium-duty trucks, the company’s firsthand knowledge of Virginia’s business atmosphere made the Commonwealth a strong candidate for the expansion.

Infrastructure in Place

For decades, the success of Volvo’s Pulaski County facility has bolstered Mack’s confidence in Virginia’s economic stability and infrastructure. 

Because the company’s suppliers were already delivering to the existing Pulaski facility, an additional site on the Interstate 81 corridor made sense. Placing the expansion near the Pulaski facility would also put it in close proximity to Mack’s corporate headquarters in North Carolina. 

A former printing plant in nearby Roanoke County was quickly identified as a viable location. Located along Interstate 81 and offering access to Interstates 64 and 77, the 134-acre property included a 280,000-square-foot existing facility with the ability to accommodate up to 1 million square feet. Above all, the plant required few alterations and allowed room for future growth.

We’re excited about the opportunities our new medium-duty product line will bring for the company, our employees, and the Roanoke Valley community. We’re very grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia and Roanoke County for their support of this project, and we look forward to growing this new business, and being a successful and engaged corporate citizen.

Martin Weissburg, President, Mack Trucks (2018–2023)

A World-Class Workforce

The Roanoke Valley has a proven track record of providing international companies with the workforce and infrastructure they need.

The region’s proximity to Virginia Tech and the renowned Virginia Tech Transportation Institute guarantees a pipeline of highly-skilled graduates, and Virginia Western Community College’s (VWCC) advanced technology education programs provide well-trained workers to serve the area’s growing automotive industry. VWCC also offers an associate’s degree in Applied Science with a focus on Mechatronic Systems Engineering Technology, as well as training as an expanded automotive service technician.

With all this in mind, Mack was confident in the strength and reliability of Roanoke Valley’s workforce.

Roanoke County Bound

In January 2020, Mack Trucks announced a $13 million investment to establish its new medium-duty truck manufacturing operation in Roanoke County, creating 250 jobs. As the first prototype-to-production automotive facility announced in Virginia, the new Mack MD Series truck is designed, engineered, and manufactured at this location. The facility is Mack’s only medium-duty assembly plant in the country.

In 2024, Mack invested an additional $14.5 million to expand its Roanoke County operation, increasing capacity for its medium-duty truck line and an emerging medium-duty electric truck line. The project created another 51 new jobs.

Virginia’s top-notch workforce, legacy of automotive manufacturing, and adaptable infrastructure made Virginia the natural choice for Mack’s ongoing growth and expansion.