The big anniversary.

1896 – the world's first truck.

This is where history picks up speed: Gottlieb Daimler built the very first truck in the world – the "Daimler Motor-Lastwagen". With 4 hp and 1.5 tonnes of payload, the performance figures seem modest from today's perspective – but the impact was enormous. With a top speed of 12 km/h, this vehicle rolled straight into a new era and paved the way for modern freight transport.

1923 – the world's first diesel truck.

The spark for a new era: Benz & Cie. brings the first diesel truck onto the road. With 45 PS the 5‑tonner could shift a respectable load, but the real revolutionary was under the hood: the diesel engine reduced fuel costs compared with the petrol engine by a staggering 86 % – and it was what really got modern freight transport rolling.

1926 – the merger of two pioneers.

Ingenuity from two worlds – under one roof from 1926! With the merger of the Daimler‑Motoren‑Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie., innovation and engineering excellence combined into something greater. Unified standards and joint development produced vehicles of worldwide renown. Two pioneers, one shared signature: henceforth united under the Daimler‑Benz AG.

1950 – Trucks for the economic boom.

A new generation of trucks is ready: long-hooded models like the L 6600 are real powerhouses – and come at just the right time. In the midst of the Economic Miracle they become the indispensable "workhorses of the upswing". Whether on construction sites or in the supply sector: they keep the country running. The robust engineering impresses – and becomes a popular export success.

1959 – the short-hooded trucks arrive.

A compromise with cult status. Due to the laws at the time, trucks were not allowed to exceed a certain length, but customers were not yet ready for a space‑saving cab-behind-engine. The solution: the engineers simply pushed the engine a bit into the cab. With model series like the L 322, Mercedes‑Benz created a design in 1959 that was so popular it was produced in some countries into the 1990s. The epitome of robustness – and a true icon of the transport industry.

1965 – clean-cut lines for cab-over-engine trucks.

Once again a radical design change: the new cab-over-engine generation, thanks to the optimised driver position, provides more space for cargo and better visibility in the cockpit. The introduction of the cubic cab is regarded as the birth of the modern Mercedes‑Benz truck DNA. And for the industry, more usable length means more revenue. As the cubic cab demonstrated: being bold pays off!

1981 – more protection on the road.

With the introduction of the ABS braking system in 1981, Mercedes‑Benz Trucks set a milestone that made road freight transport permanently safer – and did so 15 years before ABS was even legally required. This saw Mercedes‑Benz Trucks take an early pioneering role in active truck safety – a commitment that still defines the brand today.

ABS was followed by further groundbreaking assistance systems that, step by step, helped define the modern truck: ESP for greater driving stability, Active Brake Assist as an emergency braking assistant for trucks, Active Sideguard Assist for lower-risk turning manoeuvres, Active Drive Assist to support lane keeping and distance control. Technologies that Mercedes‑Benz Trucks has consistently developed further.

1996 – the Actros.

One name, one program: Actros. In 1996 it appears on the scene and doesn’t do things by halves. Disc brakes all around? Standard! Airbag? On board for the first time! Along with intelligent systems and new engines. The Actros sets standards in safety and comfort that still apply today. No wonder that shortly after its market launch it was named 'Truck of the Year' by a jury of specialist journalists.

2017 – Mercedes‑Benz Uptime.

A truck that can alert you before anything happens? In 2017 that becomes reality with Mercedes‑Benz Uptime. The system takes collaboration to a whole new level: it connects the truck, checks hundreds of parameters in real time and can warn about certain components before a failure threatens. Maintenance can be scheduled, downtime is reduced – and productivity increased.

With Uptime, Mercedes‑Benz continues a tradition that began in the 1970s: back then the “Mercedes‑Benz Service24h” sustainably improved customer service – quick assistance around the clock, wherever the truck was. Uptime brings this idea into the digital age: from the analog breakdown assistance to an intelligent, predictive partner on every journey.

2018 – the MirrorCam

Mirrors are a thing of the past. From 2018, MirrorCam replaces the traditional rear view on Mercedes‑Benz Trucks. The result: better visibility, fewer blind spots and lower fuel consumption thanks to improved aerodynamics – a clear picture for increased safety and efficiency.

2022 – connected roads.

An overview in a new dimension: My TruckPoint for Mercedes‑Benz Trucks and TruckLive bring drivers, fleets and services together in a digital ecosystem starting in 2022. Plan maintenance, manage vehicle data, control services: From now on everything is interconnected – and therefore more efficient. The Mercedes‑Benz Truck becomes an intelligent partner for high productivity.

2021 – eACTROS 300/400.

The beginning of a new era: in 2021 the eActros 300/400 rolls off the production line. The first series-production battery-electric truck. With up to 400 km range1, it proves: heavy distribution transport is possible without CO2 emissions in operation. The eActros combines E‑Power with intelligent technology and marks a real turning point for Mercedes‑Benz Trucks. For it is more than a new model – it is a signal for a new beginning.

2024 – eACTROS 600.

The eActros 600 makes it unmistakably clear in 2024: the future belongs to the e‑drive, even for long distances. With 621 kWh of installed battery capacity, 500 km range1 and an innovative e‑axle, it redefines the standard among Mercedes‑Benz Trucks. Thus the eActros 600 carries the spirit of innovation that enabled the first Daimler motor truck 130 years ago into a successful future.