130 Years of Merc trucks at retro classics Stuttgart…

Working alongside IG Süd and renowned bus historian Konrad Auwärter, the brand is preparing an expansive 700‑square‑metre stand that will trace more than a century of technical progress. Attendance at the event is expected to reach around 70 000 visitors, underlining its importance within the classic vehicle community.

Jean‑Marc Diss, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, emphasises the enduring connection between innovation and heritage within the company, noting that a century and three decades of truck history represent both pioneering ambition and the ongoing responsibility to shape the future of transport.

One of the most striking displays in Hall 10 will be the faithfully reconstructed 1896 Daimler motorised truck. Its modest four‑horsepower “Phoenix” engine, mounted at the rear and paired with chain steering and an early planetary hub reduction axle, highlights the origins of modern heavy‑duty engineering.

Daimler’s rapid evolution of the design was equally significant: by 1898, the engine had been relocated beneath the driver and soon afterwards further forward, enabling higher payloads and more efficient power delivery. These early trucks soon spread across Europe, proving superior to steam‑powered rivals and laying crucial foundations for Daimler’s international reach at the turn of the century.

Retro Classics 2026 will also commemorate thirty years of the Mercedes‑Benz Actros, a model that reshaped the modern truck sector when it debuted in 1996. As the first Mercedes‑Benz heavy‑duty truck equipped with a CAN bus system, advanced braking technology, integrated safety features, and the roomy MegaSpace cab, the Actros set new benchmarks.

The introduction of Active Brake Assist in 2006 further reinforced its role as a technological pioneer. Today’s Actros L and the fully electric eActros 600 continue this trajectory with enhanced connectivity, improved efficiency, and cutting‑edge safety systems.

Visitors will also be introduced to the new Safety Truck based on the eActros 600. Its 270‑degree sensor fusion, the latest Active Brake Assist, upgraded Sideguard Assist, and an extensive protection architecture demonstrate how far safety engineering has progressed since the rudimentary mechanisms of 1896.

The stand will feature a rich selection of additional historic vehicles, including the 1899 cardan‑shaft truck, wood‑gas lorries from the 1930s, post‑war classics, milestone Unimog models, first‑generation Actros exhibits, the dramatic Atego Race Truck, and the contemporary eActros 600 Safety Truck, illustrating the full arc of 130 years of innovation.

Some milestones:

140 years of innovation since the birth of the automobile: Benz patent in 1886
130 years of transport: The first van and the first truck were unveiled in 1896
100 years of Mercedes-Benz: Benz & Cie. and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft merged in 1926
50 years since premiere of model series 123: Milestone in the tradition of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class
20 years of the Mercedes-Benz Museum: Popular international destination since 2006