Mercedes-Benz Trucks Classic will launch its anniversary year, “130 Years of Trucks,” at Retro Classics Stuttgart from 19 to 22 February 2026, offering visitors an immersive journey through the evolution of commercial vehicles.
In partnership with IG Süd and bus expert Konrad Auwärter, the brand will showcase more than a century of engineering progress across a 700-square-metre exhibition stand. Around 70,000 visitors are expected to attend the trade fair.
Jean-Marc Diss, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, highlights the dual spirit of heritage and innovation: “130 years of trucks stand for 130 years of pioneering spirit. Tradition and future are inseparably linked at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.”
A central attraction in Hall 10 is the meticulously reconstructed 1896 Daimler motorised truck. Powered by a two-cylinder “Phoenix” engine producing four horsepower, the vehicle features chain steering, rear-mounted engine placement, and an early form of the planetary hub-reduction axle—technology still found in modern heavy-duty trucks.
Just two years later, Daimler advanced the design by moving the engine beneath and then ahead of the driver, enabling greater performance and payload. These early trucks soon entered service across Europe, competing successfully against steam vehicles and laying the groundwork for Daimler’s global expansion by the turn of the century.
Retro Classics 2026 also marks three decades of the Mercedes-Benz Actros. First unveiled in 1996, the Actros introduced electronic braking systems, CAN-bus architecture, new safety features, and the spacious MegaSpace cab. Milestones such as the debut of Active Brake Assist in 2006 further cemented the model’s reputation for progressive safety technology.
The latest Actros L and the electric eActros 600 now continue that legacy of digitalisation, efficiency, and safety.
The event will also debut the eActros 600-based Safety Truck, integrating a 270-degree sensor-fusion system, Active Brake Assist 6, Active Sideguard Assist 2, and an extensive protection concept—surpassing several future regulatory standards and advancing the brand’s vision of accident-free transport.
Additional exhibits include the 1899 cardan-shaft truck, wood-gas-powered vehicles from the 1930s, iconic post-war lorries, Unimog milestones, classic Actros models, the Atego Race Truck, and the modern eActros 600 Safety Truck.
