Mercedes-Benz Actros celebrates 25 years in South Africa
Mercedes-Benz Actros celebrates 25 years in South Africa
The Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star has been shining immaculately on the Actros for 25 years in South African long-distance and distribution haulage. A total of five generations have been introduced over this period, each claiming the highly sought-after International Truck of the Year (IToY) title.
Assembled locally at the Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) plant in East London, each generation of the Mercedes-Benz Actros has consistently brought an innovative first to the market, from the bygone era of mechanical trucks to the dawn of the modern era of computerised trucks.
Exactly 25 years ago, Mercedes-Benz Trucks paved the way for the evolution of trucking in South Africa when it launched its first generation Actros – an industry-first computerised truck specifically designed for long-distance and distribution haulage. Since then, four more Actros generations have been produced in the DTSA assembly plant, continuing an unblemished record in a class of their own for the last quarter of a century.
Throughout its history, the Mercedes-Benz Actros premium model series has delivered every aspect required of a long-distance truck at the highest level, becoming one of the true global success stories. Proving this notion, each Actros generation has won the IToY accolade, bestowed by top commercial vehicle journalists from all around the world. The award is given to the truck that makes the biggest contribution towards road transport innovation, encompassing efficiency, emissions, safety, drivability, and vehicle comfort.
“We are gratified by the huge strides we have made as a trusted truck brand in the last quarter of a century. Not only does this milestone attest to our relentless efforts to produce best-in-class trucks, but it is also a testament to our ongoing commitment to the region,” says Maretha Gerber, vice president: sales & marketing DTSA. “Thank you to our customers, dealer partners, and employees for withstanding the test of time. We are excited about what lies ahead as the commercial vehicle industry progresses.”
First generation Actros (1998 – 2004)
Daimler Truck AG has been a pioneer in the commercial vehicle sector since Gottlieb Daimler invented the historic Daimler Motor-Lastwage (widely recognised as the world’s first motorised truck) in 1896. Today, it is one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers. 1996 marked a turning point for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, as it introduced its first generation Actros in Europe. The truck quickly gained popularity and was recognised as the 1997 IToY.
The first generation Actros officially arrived in South Africa in 1998 as the first-ever computerised truck. It boasted innovative features such as the electronically controlled air brake system with disc brakes on both front and rear axles, as well as the introduction of Controller Area Network (CAN) technology for the chassis and drivetrain. The arrival of the 1998 version marked the start of a first-class and world-renowned model series, which to this day remains ahead of the curve in its market segment.
Second generation Actros (2004 – 2009)
Subsequent to the introduction of the first generation, the Actros continued to meet the continually growing demands of long-distance and distribution haulage. The second generation made its South African debut in 2004, offering the first automated transmission as a standard option to customers.
This generation, named International Truck of the Year 2004, came loaded with industry-leading features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, and a new stowage concept.
Third generation Actros (2009 – 2018)
In 2009, the third generation Actros took centre stage in South Africa with its fresh-looking yet powerful design. It was the first truck to introduce Fleetboard to customers. An in-house premium telematics system, Fleetboard has continued to offer optimised fuel consumption, reduced wear and tear, and improved safety in subsequent generations of the Actros. All the information is at your fingertips with services such as trip records, performance analysis, mapping, and reports, as well as 30-second tracking which ultimately contributes to added savings in the long run.
In that very same year, this generation Actros set a Guinness World Record as the most fuel-efficient 40-tonne truck in the world, making it synonymous with phenomenal performance capabilities and outstanding fuel economy. It also won the IToY 2009, marking the third time the model had received this accolade.
Fourth generation Actros (2018 – 2020)
In 2018, a completely new Mercedes-Benz Actros hit South African soil, setting new standards for road efficiency by focusing on the details: low total costs, greater safety, and maximised use. The fourth generation Actros boosted efficiency into a whole new dimension with the first introduction of a Euro 5 emission engine variant. Globally, the fourth generation Actros was launched in 2012 and was recognised as the IToY in the same year.
Building on already standard safety features like Lane Keeping Assist, driver airbag, and Stability Control Assist, the fourth generation Actros further raised the safety benchmark from its predecessor, with additional safety systems such as Attention Assist, Active Brake Assist 4 (including Proximity Control Assist), Roll Control Assist, and Seat Belt Monitoring.
Fifth generation Actros (2020 – present)
The year 2020 marked an industry-defining era for the South African market, when Mercedes-Benz Trucks introduced its ground-breaking fifth generation Actros with the claim “Everyone talks, one delivers. The new Actros.” This was the first truck to take technology to the next level with the replacement of conventional main and wide-angled mirrors with MirrorCam, a camera system that plays a major role in safety and manoeuvrability.
Four additional core innovations were taken into consideration for this generation: Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), Multimedia Cockpit, Active Brake Assist 5, and Mercedes-Benz Uptime with Fleetboard services as a standard. In the same year, the Mercedes-Benz Actros reigned supreme for the fifth time, as it was crowned International Truck of the Year 2020, cementing its position once again as the most innovative and fuel-efficient truck in the world.
A massive congratulations to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks team on this significant trucking milestone. Here’s to 25 more years of continual safety and innovation excellence in South Africa!
Published by
focusmagsa
