Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrates 130-years

20/03/2026

2026 is the year that sees Mercedes-Benz mark the 130th anniversary of the world’s first truck.

Presented by Gottlieb Daimler in 1896, the two‑cylinder “Phoenix” rear‑mounted engine delivered four horsepower via a displacement of 1.06 litres, driving the rear axle via a belt system. Coil springs protected the sensitive engine from vibrations, and the front axle was steered via chains.

As early as 1899, Daimler delivered the first trucks to England and France, where they prevailed over steam‑powered vehicles.

Mainstays of the Mercedes-Benz truck range today are two International Truck of the Year winners – the 1996-launched, heavy-duty Actros, popular amongst long-distance hauliers, and Atego, launched in 1998 and favoured by food distributors and delivery specialists generally. Another model, which was spawned by the Atego and seen working in housing estates, is the Econic bin collection truck favoured by many private waste collectors.

30 years ago Mercedes‑Benz set new standards in efficiency, safety, and driver comfort with the introduction of the Actros. A further milestone followed in 2006 with the debut of Active Brake Assist – another system celebrating an anniversary this year. As a pioneer in assistance technology, Active Brake Assist has been continuously enhanced adding to greater active safety on the road.

Today, the Actros family spans multiple generations, including the current Actros L and eActros 600. Together, they represent three decades of technological progress, from new drivetrain technologies and connected systems to comprehensive safety features. An evolution that illustrates the significant role the Actros plays in modernising freight transport and how closely its history is linked to 130 years of innovation in truck development.