In South Africa, the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck marks 25 years as a trailblazer.
In South Africa for long-distance and distribution haulage for 25 years, the three-pointed star of the Mercedes-Benz Actros has shone flawlessly. Over the course of the 25-year span, a total of 5 generations have been introduced, each of which has won the coveted International Truck of the Year award. Each version of the Mercedes-Benz Actros, which is built locally at the Daimler Truck Southern Africa plant in East London, has continuously introduced a cutting-edge first to the market.
Beginning with the mechanical trucks of the past and ending with the computerised trucks of the present. Exactly 25 years ago, Mercedes-Benz Trucks introduced the first generation Actros, the first computerised truck designed for long-distance and distribution haulage, paving the path for the development of trucking in South Africa. Since then, four additional Actros generations have been built in the Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) assembly factory in East London, and they have maintained an impeccable reputation over the past 25 years.
The Mercedes-Benz Actros premium model series has provided every feature needed for a long-distance truck at the highest level over the course of its history, and it has grown to become one of the true success stories globally. The fact that each Actros generation has been named "International Truck of the Year" supports this claim. The award is given to the truck that contributes the most to road transport innovation, which benefits vehicles' efficiency, emissions, safety, drivability, and comfort. It is given by top commercial vehicle journalists from around the world.
First-generation Actros (1998 – 2004)
Since Gottlieb Daimler created the Daimler Motor-Lastwagen in 1896, it is largely regarded as the world's first motorised truck. One of the biggest commercial vehicle manufacturers today is Daimler Truck AG, which was a pioneer in the industry. Following this momentous decision, Mercedes-Benz Trucks underwent a significant transformation in 1996 when it launched the first version of the Actros in Europe. The Actros soon garnered popularity and was named the International Truck of the Year in 1997. As the first computerised truck with ground-breaking features like the Electronically Controlled Air Brake System with Disc Brakes on both the front and rear axles and the introduction of Controller Area Network (CAN) Technology for the chassis and drivetrain, the first generation Actros made its official debut in South Africa in 1998. This year saw the launch of a first-rate and well-known model series that continues to dominate its market niche today.
Second-generation Actros (2004 – 2009)
After the debut of the first generation, the Actros kept up with the distribution and long-distance haulage industries' rising demand. The second-generation Actros made its debut in South Africa in 2004 and provided consumers with the first automated transmission as a standard option. Due to its abundance of market-leading innovations, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and a novel stowage concept, the second generation received the industry's seal of approval as the 2004 International Truck of the Year.
Third-generation Actros (2009 – 2018)
In South Africa, the third-generation Actros stole the show in 2009 as the first truck to make Fleetboard, an in-house, high-end telematics system, available to clients. The Fleetboard system's key advantages include reduced wear and tear, increased safety, and optimised fuel usage. With services like Trip Records, Performance Analysis, Mapping, Reports, and 30-second tracking, all the information is at your fingertips, which eventually contributes to long-term savings. The Actros of this generation became known for its incredible performance capabilities and exceptional fuel economy when it received the Guinness World Record for being the most fuel-efficient 40-tonne truck in the world in the same year. Additionally, it was named 2009's International Truck of the Year. receiving the honour a third time.
Fourth-generation Actros (2018 – 2020)
Because efficiency is the sum of the details—low total costs, increased safety, and maximised use—a completely new Mercedes-Benz Actros from its predecessor debuted in South Africa in 2018 and immediately set new norms for road efficiency. With the debut of a Euro V emission engine type, the fourth-generation Actros brought efficiency to a completely new level. The fourth-generation Actros was introduced to the world in 2012 and was named the International Truck of the Year for that year. The fourth generation Actros further raised the bar for safety with additional safety systems like Attention Assist, Active Brake Assist 4 (including Proximity Control Assist), Roll Control Assist, and Seat Belt Monitoring in addition to Lane Keeping Assist, driver Airbag, and Stability Control Assist, which were already standard on its predecessor.
Fifth-generation Actros (2020 to present)
In 2020, Mercedes-Benz Trucks unveiled its revolutionary fifth-generation Actros with the tagline "Everyone talks, one delivers," ushering in a new era for the South African market. The new Actros". This is the first truck to advance technology by swapping out the standard primary and wide-angled mirrors for MirrorCam, a camera system that significantly improves safety and agility. Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), Multimedia Cockpit, Active Brake Assist 5, and Mercedes-Benz Uptime with Fleetboard services as a standard were four more essential advancements that were taken into consideration for this generation. The Mercedes-Benz Actros was recognised as the world's most innovative and fuel-efficient truck in the same year, winning the title of International Truck of the Year 2020 for the fifth time.
