Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) proudly marked a significant milestone with the celebration and handover of its 150 000th locally assembled truck, a Mercedes‑Benz Actros 2645LS/33 at its East London assembly plant. The milestone vehicle was delivered to TT Group Holding.
Commenting on this exciting customer handover, Olaf Petersen, Vice President for Sales and Marketing says: “The trucking industry is built on strong, enduring relationships. We don’t simply hand over a truck, we partner with our customers and support them throughout their journey.
“It is especially meaningful to deliver our 150 000th locally built truck to TT Group Holding, a valued customer who shares our commitment to performance and excellence. This milestone is not only a reflection of our product strength, but of the trust and collaboration that drive our business and the business of our customers forward,” he says.
The first truck, a L-Type Mercedes-Benz Truck rolled off the DTSA Assembly Plant in East London in 1962, marking the start of local production of Mercedes-Benz Trucks and local truck production in South Africa.
Over 60 years later the 150 000th truck rolls off the same line, underscoring decades of excellence, innovation and commitment to driving the local production in the Southern Africa region forward, DTSA says.
Vice President of Manufacturing, Gladstone Mtyoko comments: “The production of our 150 000th truck at the DTSA assembly plant represents far more than a number, it is a testament to the dedication, craftsmanship and passion of our people. It reflects the strength of our production capabilities and our relentless focus on quality, efficiency and continuous innovation. This milestone demonstrates the important role we play in powering mobility and keeping Africa moving. I am incredibly proud of this achievement and of the outstanding team behind it, who continue to set the standard for excellence in manufacturing.
In 2022, the East London Assembly Plant celebrated 60 years of production. Over the years, the facility has achieved several significant milestones. In 2010, Mercedes‑Benz Buses assembled OH bus chassis in support of the FIFA World Cup hosted in South Africa. This was followed in 2015 by the assembly of the 125 000th truck in the East London plant.
The plant continued to build on this legacy with the production of the 750 000th CKD unit and the 800 000th unit from the Wörth plant in 2019 and 2024 respectively. In 2023, Mercedes‑Benz Trucks also celebrated 25 years of the Actros in South Africa and its assembly in East London.
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