Mercedes-Benz Trucks will officially commence series production of the eActros 600 on November 22 at its Wörth plant. Recently named International Truck of the Year 2025 at the IAA Transportation event in Hannover, the eActros 600 is set to hit the roads with customer vehicles manufactured and registered before the end of 2024.
Key components for the battery-electric truck will be produced at the Mercedes-Benz plants in Gaggenau, Kassel, and Mannheim, underscoring a collaborative production effort.
A Milestone for Sustainable Transportation
Dr. Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Truck Technology at Daimler Truck, emphasized the truck’s role in reducing emissions:
“Long-haul transport accounts for about two-thirds of CO2 emissions in the transport industry. The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 is pivotal in decarbonizing this segment. This milestone highlights our team effort across multiple plants. Now, the focus must shift to developing public charging infrastructure, the current bottleneck for decarbonization.”
German Production Hubs Drive Innovation
Yariş Pürsün, Head of Global Powertrain Operations at Daimler Truck, highlighted the contribution of German production facilities to the eActros 600:
- Kassel Plant: Produces the new e-axle, combining axle, motor, and transmission into a cutting-edge electric powertrain.
- Gaggenau Plant: Manufactures components and housings for the e-axle and cab bodyshell parts.
- Mannheim Plant: Assembles the front box, a complex module housing key high-voltage components and control units.
Advanced Front Box Technology
The front box, assembled at Mannheim, replaces the space previously occupied by the combustion engine. While it has no direct drive function, it integrates over 1,000 individual parts, including control units, high-voltage components, and an electric air compressor, essential for truck operation.
Kassel and Gaggenau: Core to e-Axle Production
The Gaggenau plant, traditionally a leader in heavy-duty vehicle transmissions, has evolved into a hub for electric drive components. Since 2021, it has been producing key parts for the eActros 300/400 and the eEconic. These efforts now extend to the innovative 4-speed axle drive of the eActros 600, made from about 30 components manufactured in Gaggenau.
These parts are sent to Kassel, Daimler’s global competence center for electric drive systems, where the fully assembled e-axle is created, marking a significant step in Daimler’s transformation toward emission-free mobility.