Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation in Customization
For 25 years, Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks (CTT) has been at the forefront of delivering specialized solutions that go far beyond the company’s standard truck lineup. Since its establishment, the CTT unit has been dedicated to meeting unique customer requirements by transforming trucks into highly customized vehicles suited to diverse industries and markets worldwide. From chassis modifications and wheel formula changes to complete vehicle conversions for heavy-duty operations, CTT has built a legacy of innovation and customer focus.
Since its founding in 2000 as a dedicated business unit within the Daimler Truck organization, CTT has successfully completed more than 325,000 vehicle conversions, serving customers in over 140 countries. The brand has grown into a symbol of reliability, flexibility, and engineering excellence, ensuring that no matter how complex the request, the final result remains unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz truck.
“Where the Standard Range Ends, CTT Begins”
Franziska Cusumano, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, describes the role of CTT clearly:
“Where the standard range ends, Custom Tailored Trucks comes into play. We offer our customers completely customized solutions worldwide – from small, individual requests to highly complex, tailor-made products. Our goal is to adapt each truck perfectly to its intended application while maintaining the high standards of Mercedes-Benz quality.”
Marc Schulz, Head of Custom Tailored Trucks, adds:
“In today’s world, customer needs are more diverse and demanding than ever. With CTT, we can provide tailor-made solutions to nearly any request. Whether through our teams in Molsheim and Wörth or our network of specialized partners, customer collaboration and satisfaction remain our highest priority.”
A Global Network for Localized Solutions
The CTT network operates from two main Mercedes-Benz sites—Molsheim in France and Wörth am Rhein in Germany—supported by seven highly specialized partner companies across Germany. This structure allows for efficient collaboration, combining the core expertise of Mercedes-Benz engineers with the agility of specialized conversion experts.
The Molsheim site, located near the French-German border, is the headquarters of CTT and home to around 600 employees. With 63 conversion stations, the plant specializes in tailored engineering and truck modifications. Since 1991, Molsheim has been performing truck conversions, and in 2000, it became the central hub of CTT. Today, it not only handles complex truck adaptations but also produces Unimog cabs and parts for series-production trucks.
At the Wörth plant, the largest Mercedes-Benz Trucks facility, vehicles are initially built in series. They are then sent to Molsheim or partner companies for specialized modifications. Partners in the network include well-known German firms such as Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, TITAN Spezialfahrzeugbau GmbH, and Eggers Fahrzeugbau GmbH. This setup ensures short transport distances, faster coordination, and efficient execution of customer-specific projects.
From Small Adjustments to Complex Heavy-Duty Solutions
The scope of CTT services is vast. It ranges from relatively simple modifications such as wheelbase adjustments, cab modifications, or frame reinforcements, to highly complex transformations like adding axles, fitting heavy-duty systems, or creating entirely specialized vehicles.
For instance:
- Military Applications: CTT is currently fulfilling a major order from Bundeswehr Fuhrpark Service GmbH by equipping Mercedes-Benz Arocs 6×6 trucks with military-specific features.
- Municipal Services: To meet the needs of Berlin’s waste management company, CTT developed slim Mercedes-Benz Econic vehicles with a cab width of only 2.40 meters.
- Infrastructure Projects: More than 100 trucks for Autobahn GmbH are being converted from 2-axle to 3-axle versions to increase payload capacity.
- Electrification: CTT also plays a role in supporting the transition to e-mobility by customizing electric trucks to meet specific operational requirements.
Engineering Feats in Heavy-Duty Transport
Some of the most impressive CTT projects involve heavy-duty tractor units designed for extraordinary loads.
In 2023, for example, CTT worked on the Mercedes-Benz Actros 8×4/4 Full-SLT. After leaving the Wörth assembly line, the vehicle underwent extensive modifications in Molsheim and at TITAN in Sulzbach. It was transformed into a 4-axle truck with two driven axles, capable of handling semi-trailer heavy transport. Enhancements included an additional 8-ton leading axle, a 900-liter fuel tank, cooling systems, and a fifth wheel coupling with sliding device for efficient axle load distribution.
Another striking project was the Mercedes-Benz Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8×6, built for heavy-duty specialist Baumann. Conversion teams installed a leading axle with load relief control, heavy-duty couplings, a hydraulic trailer steering system, and a BigSpace cab replacement—requiring around 9,500 individual parts to be installed or adapted.
For international markets, CTT adapts vehicles to meet specific regulations. In Japan, for example, where a maximum truck height of 3.8 meters is mandated, CTT developed a unique version of the Arocs 4763 8×6 with a ClassicSpace cab, compact cooling system, and heavy-duty coupling system.
A Quarter Century of Customization Excellence
As Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks marks its 25th anniversary, the business unit continues to prove its value as a vital extension of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks portfolio. By combining engineering expertise, global reach, and customer-focused flexibility, CTT ensures that every truck—no matter how specialized—remains a true Mercedes-Benz.
With over 325,000 customized trucks already on the road and a growing demand for specialized solutions, CTT is set to play an even bigger role in shaping the future of transportation, from heavy-duty diesel to next-generation electric trucks.
