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After separating from its passenger car division, Daimler Truck is looking ahead with confidence. The company's CEO explained what the rapidly changing future holds for the German truck manufacturer during the Daimler Truckport event near Zaventem Airport. Electric trucks, of course, but also more attention to customer concerns.
Next year, Daimler Truck will celebrate its 129th anniversary, but CEO Belux Peter Brock is not looking in the rearview mirror at all. In his vision for the future, he talked about “special lanes accessible only to autonomous vehicles” and “highways with more than enough hydrogen filling stations.” “We are investing heavily,” says Brock, “but it is especially important to do so in a measured way.” Another issue that was impossible to ignore in the halls of the Daimler Truck Port event where the boss spoke to us was the specter of geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, Brock sees opportunities. “Because despite everything, the transport sector will continue to grow by two to three percent by 2030, and that will benefit both our business and that of our customers.”
Last year, Daimler Truck, which employs 108,000 people worldwide, sold around 460,000 vehicles. These figures lay the foundation on which the manufacturer can continue to build a more sustainable range. But there is more. Brock: “As a manufacturer, we have to deliver according to customer expectations. We also want to be – above all – a partner with whom customers can do business as easily as possible.” There was still room for improvement in this area. Daimler Truck therefore invested in a newly opened, state-of-the-art logistics center in Halberstadt in southern Germany. This will increase delivery reliability and minimize downtime for customers.
And what about measured investment? Well, Daimler Truck is cutting its coat according to its cloth. As the world's largest manufacturer of diesel engines, this technology remains a core product, but in-house innovations in powertrains with traction batteries are expanding. For hydrogen, the strategy is more one of shared costs, pluralism, and patience. The company is joining forces with Volvo Trucks to develop both hydrogen combustion engines and fuel cell technology. The commercial launch is planned for 2029. “Our products are important building blocks for the transition, and they are ready,” Brock emphasizes.
To reinforce these words, attendees at Daimler Truck Port were treated to a European premiere: the new fully electric eActros 400, which borrows from the larger eActros 600. The medium-sized truck takes over the electric drive axle with two motors, as well as the four-speed transmission. It delivers a continuous power output of 400 kW with a peak of 600 kW. But because it has only two battery packs (414 kWh) instead of three, it is 1.5 tons lighter and can handle up to 25 tons of payload, comparable to a diesel truck.
The decision to once again opt for LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries marks a growing trend for Daimler Truck: this chemical composition uses few critical raw materials. As a result, it is less expensive, which benefits the TCO. In addition, the driver can count on the fast-charging advantages of an 800-volt architecture. For example, the 400 charges from 10 to 80 percent in 46 minutes via CCS and achieves a driving range of up to 480 kilometers with a partial load. “A ZEV truck will remain more expensive than the diesel alternative for some time to come. Political intervention is needed. After all, 35,000 charging stations will need to be operational in Europe by the end of the decade,” concludes Brock.
