• Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic will showcase highlights from 130 years of truck history at Retro Classics Stuttgart from February 19–22, 2026.
• Highlight: Reconstruction of the first Daimler truck from 1896 as a major technological milestone.
• Additional anniversaries: 30 years of the Mercedes‑Benz Actros, 80 years of Unimog, 75 years of Setra.
• Exhibits range from historic vehicles to the current Mercedes‑Benz eActros 600 Safety Truck.
• “130 years of trucks stand for 130 years of pioneering spirit and innovation. We can be proud of how far we have come and at the same time, this anniversary motivates us to continue our journey and to look forward,” says Jean‑Marc Diss, Head of Global Sales & Marketing Mercedes‑Benz Trucks.
• 75 years of Setra – self‑supporting buses since 1951.

Leinfelden‑Echterdingen/Stuttgart – Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic is opening the anniversary year “130 Years Trucks” at Retro Classics Stuttgart from February 19 to 22, 2026. Together with partners such as IG Süd for historic commercial vehicles, an active community of classic truck enthusiasts from southern Germany, and Konrad Auwärter, a renowned expert and custodian of German bus heritage, the brand presents a unique journey through the history of trucks and buses. The Mercedes‑Benz Trucks stand alone covers 700 square meters of exhibition space. The trade fair is expected to welcome around 70,000 visitors.

“130 years of trucks stand for 130 years of pioneering spirit and innovation. We can be proud of how far we have come and at the same time, this anniversary motivates us to continue our journey. Tradition and future are inseparably linked at Mercedes‑Benz Trucks, just like our clear focus on the needs of our customers and on first‑class service. This includes thinking forward and continuously developing transport solutions that benefit our customer,” says Jean‑Marc Diss, Head of Global Sales & Marketing Mercedes‑Benz Trucks.

The World’s First Truck – A Technological Milestone

The highlight at the booth in Hall 10 is the reconstruction of the world’s first motorized truck, which Gottlieb Daimler presented in 1896. The two‑cylinder “Phoenix” rear‑mounted engine delivers four horsepower with a displacement of 1.06 liters and drives the rear axle via a belt system. Coil springs protect the sensitive engine from vibrations, and the front axle is steered via chains. The driver sits on an elevated coach‑style bench, while the engine is positioned at the rear. Remarkably, Daimler had already integrated a principle still used today in heavy‑duty trucks: the planetary hub‑reduction axle.

Already in 1898, the next evolutionary step followed: the engine was moved beneath the driver’s seat and later shifted further forward ahead of the front axle, a layout that paved the way for higher performance and increased payload capacity. Daimler tested the vehicles under real‑world conditions at a brickworks before they entered series production. This marked the beginning of a success story that revolutionized international transport. As early as 1899, Daimler delivered the first trucks to England and France, where they prevailed over steam‑powered vehicles.

The international relevance of these vehicles became evident early on: at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, Daimler presented its vehicles to a global audience. As early as 1898, the company had taken the step into the US market by founding the Daimler Manufacturing Company in Long Island City, New York. This established a global presence at the turn of the century, a tradition that continues to this day.

Three Decades of Actros – The Beginning of the Modern Truck Generation

The Mercedes‑Benz Actros has embodied the shift from a traditional commercial vehicle to a highly advanced, electronically networked working tool since 1996. At Retro Classics 2026, Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic is showcasing the first Actros generation—thirty years after its premiere at the IAA.

The Actros marks a fundamental technological milestone: it was the brand’s first heavy‑duty truck equipped with a CAN data bus, electronically controlled braking systems, integrated safety assistance systems, and the pioneering MegaSpace cab.

In 1996, Mercedes‑Benz set new standards in efficiency, safety, and driver comfort with the Actros. A further milestone followed in 2006 with the debut of Active Brake Assist—another system celebrating an anniversary in 2026. As a pioneer in assistance technology, Active Brake Assist has been continuously enhanced and continues to shape the path toward greater active safety on the road.

Today, the Actros family spans multiple generations, including the current Actros L and the eActros 600. Together, they represent three decades of technological progress—from new drivetrain technologies and connected systems to comprehensive safety features. This evolution illustrates the significant role the Actros plays in modernizing freight transport and how closely its history is linked to 130 years of innovation in truck development.

Safety Truck Based on the Mercedes‑Benz eActros 600

With the new Safety Truck based on the eActros 600, Mercedes‑Benz Trucks demonstrates how far safety technology has evolved over 130 years of truck history. While the world’s first truck from 1896 with four horsepower, chain steering, and solid iron tires was still essentially a motorized carriage, the Actros 1 introduced modern electronics into heavy‑duty transport 30 years ago, including all‑round disc brakes, an electronic braking system, and integrated control technology that set new safety standards.

The new Safety Truck now elevates this development forward to a new dimension: a 270‑degree sensor‑fusion system, intelligent assistance functions such as Active Brake Assist 6 and Active Sideguard Assist 2, as well as a comprehensive protection concept, make this truck one of the safest vehicles in its class. With technologies that already exceed some future legal standards, the Safety Truck illustrates how modern safety‑assistance systems can prevent accidents or significantly mitigate their consequences another step by Mercedes‑Benz Trucks toward the vision of accident‑free driving.

75 Years of Setra – Self‑Supporting Buses Since 1951

The Setra brand is presenting a Setra S 8 from the old‑timer collection in Neu‑Ulm at Retro Classics 2026 to mark its 75th anniversary. The red‑and‑beige vehicle, measuring 9.3 meters in length, dates from 1954, offers 29 seats, and is powered by an in‑line six‑cylinder diesel engine from Henschel with an output of 74 kW (100 hp).

In 1951, the premiere of this first self‑supporting bus took place on the premises of a Kässbohrer general representative near the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The first German integral bus — combining chassis and body — soon moved into the spotlight of industry professionals. With its streamlined exterior design, large luggage compartments, and rear‑mounted engine with direct drive to the rear axle, this construction principle from the Ulm‑based manufacturer Kässbohrer set new standards in European bus engineering.

Additional Anniversaries and Exhibits

In addition to the world’s first truck, Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic is presenting numerous historical milestones at the booth:

• Daimler cardan‑shaft truck (1899), which is being restored to running condition in a glass workshop at the Technik Museum Speyer as part of the special exhibition “Legends on Wheels.”
• Mercedes‑Benz L 1500 with wood‑gas generator (1937), illustrating an almost forgotten alternative propulsion technology that was common in Germany until the 1950s.
• Mercedes‑Benz L 4500 (1965), LP 608 (1965), and L 1113 (1966) — typical representatives of the post‑war era and symbols of the economic upswing.
• Unimog U 416 (1978) and an early Unimog from 1946, marking the anniversary “80 Years of Unimog.”
• Mercedes‑Benz Actros 1843 LS of the first generation (model year 2000), celebrating 30 years of the Mercedes‑Benz Actros.
• Setra S 8 from the Neu‑Ulm old‑timer collection, marking 75 years of Setra and representing the brand’s strong bus expertise within the group.
• Mercedes‑Benz Atego Race Truck (2000), a racing machine from past decades that continues to thrill fans today.
• Mercedes‑Benz eActros 600 Safety Truck, showcasing current solutions for locally emission‑free and highly safe transport operations.

Interactive Features at the Booth

Visitors can look forward to a varied and interactive experience at the booth: This includes a tire‑changing station, information on the recommissioning of the historic 1899 truck, as well as remote‑controlled model vehicles (RC models). These detailed truck replicas will be operated on Saturday and Sunday by their builders themselves, who will also happily provide insights into the development and technical aspects of the models.

The offering is complemented by a special highlight: every day at 12:30 p.m., the engines of a truck from 1896 and a Race Truck will be started alternately at the booth. An impressive acoustic experience for the trade fair visitors. For professional exchange, experts from the supporting association of the Technik Museum Speyer (Saturdays and Sundays) as well as specialists from Mercedes‑Benz Trucks Classic will be available.

Opening Hours

The exhibition opens its doors for visitors: 
on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and from Friday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This gives all fans of historic vehicles and interested visitors the opportunity to experience the wide variety of Mercedes‑Benz Trucks classics live.

The brand promise “Trucks you can trust”

Within the overall setting of Retro Classics, it becomes clear how the historical and current vehicles on display reflect the self‑image of Mercedes‑Benz Trucks. Themes such as technological progress, reliability in daily operations and close interaction with customers have shaped the brand for 130 years – and are therefore directly linked to the values of “Progress,” “Reliability” and “Partnership,” which together define our brand promise “Trucks you can trust.” These values also guide our commitment to move forward with our customers.