Freightliner says it will build a $300 million plant in Mexico to help gear up for what the company thinks will be a surge in customer demand in 2009.

According to a company press release, the plant - which will be located in Saltillo, near Monterey - will produce Freightliner and Sterling trucks.

The plant will employ about 1,600 people and is expected to produce up to 30,000 trucks annually.

Freightliner already has one plant in Mexico that makes Freightliner-branded heavy and medium trucks for sale in Mexico and for export.