Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has appointed Rakesh Aneja as senior vice president of engineering and technology.

He succeeds Randy DeBortoli, who is retiring after more than 33 years with the commercial vehicle manufacturer. In his new role, Aneja will oversee DTNA’s entire engineering division, taking corporate responsibility for overarching technology strategies and new product development pipelines while joining the OEM’s operating committee.

Aneja steps into the lead technical role backed by nearly three decades of powertrain and structural engineering leadership across North American and European markets.

Most recently, he served as DTNA’s head of corporate development, where he directed long-term strategic planning, advanced joint ventures, and autonomous vehicle technology initiatives. His earlier career includes senior roles supervising vehicle platforms, propulsion systems, and advanced product releases alongside global manufacturing and supply chain teams.

“Engineering excellence has always been at the heart of how we lead this industry,” stated John O’Leary, president and CEO of DTNA. “Rakesh brings the right balance of vision, discipline, and operational rigor to the team. His experience, coupled with steadiness, a strategic mindset, and technical depth, will strengthen our ability to execute at scale and accelerate the innovations that define our future.”

For commercial fleets and heavy-duty repair networks, this executive transition at the parent company of Freightliner and Western Star signals an ongoing, disciplined push toward autonomous transport and next-generation powertrain integration.