Mack Trucks begins production on new Anthem model in Lehigh Valley | Western Lehigh County

L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa.- Make way for the Anthem.

Production is now underway in the Lehigh Valley for Mack Trucks’ redesigned regional-haul truck.

As of Tuesday, January 13, the Mack Anthem is rolling off the assembly line at the company’s plant in Lower Macungie Township, which Mack calls Lehigh Valley Operations, or LVO.

The Anthem truck was first introduced in 2017, but the latest model is not a facelift or a refresh, the company said last year, when announcing the new line. Instead, the redesigned Anthem aims to be the “new standard in regional haul,” Mack said.

Last year, Mack Trucks also rolled out a new long-haul truck, the Pioneer. Both Anthem and Pioneer can be used for regional or long-haul trips. But, with a shorter bumper-to-back-of-cab length, the Anthem was designed with maneuverability in mind, the company said.

In addition to the shorter length and a redesigned hood meant to improve visibility, the new Anthem “delivers up to 10% improvement in fuel efficiency compared with the previous model, which can translate to approximately $5,000 in annual fuel savings per truck,” Mack said, in a news release. “This improvement comes from both powertrain enhancements and aerodynamic innovations.”

Mack Trucks said it has invested $405 million within the past decade to prepare for production of the Anthem and other Class 8 vehicles in Mack’s portfolio at LVO, where all Mack Class 8 vehicles are assembled.