As a Mercedes-Benz truck to celebrate the centenary celebration of Gottlieb Daimler's invention of the world's first truck in 1896, in 1996, mercedes-Benz Actos was officially launched as an alternative model to the SK series, stepping towards the pace of the new millennium, and also standardising the new beginning of the Mercedes-Benz flagship truck series. To this day, the Actros series remains at the forefront of the segment.
Andreas von Wallfeld, head of mercedes-Benz truck marketing and service, said Actros has been the flagship of our portfolio for a quarter of a century, with more than 1.4 million trucks sold worldwide in this high-end model range, a clear testament to customer satisfaction with The Actos. Each generation of Actros launches has been awarded the title of "International Truck of the Year" by commercial vehicle journalists across Europe, a testament to the extraordinary success of the model. According to the rules of the jury, the award is awarded annually to the truck that has made the greatest contribution to road transport innovation, while the selection will focus on the efficiency, emissions, safety, drivability and comfort of the vehicle.
Since 1996, each generation of Actos has taken the lead in safety, fuel consumption, connected vehicles and comfort. The first-generation Actros is known for its electronic braking system EBS, CAN bus and oversized cab with full flat floor.
Inside the second-generation Actos, highlights include adaptive cruise control, active brake assist, lane keeping, Powershift transmission and a new loading concept.
The third-generation Actos feature impressive features such as a light rain sensor and a further open emergency braking system, Active Assist, an updated Powershift transmission.
The fourth generation of The Electros debuted worldwide in 2011, marking the first major replacement since the birth of the Actros. The biggest highlights are the new generation of engines with Euro 6 emissions, GPS cruise control, the further development of the Powershift transmission, and the active brake assist 4 for pedestrian detection.
In 2018, the fifth-generation Actos went on sale worldwide, with four global debuts. The ADA, the active driver assistance system, and the world's first semi-autonomous driving assistance system (Level 2), were launched on the mass market. The ADA actively assists the driver under specific conditions through the longitudinal and lateral guidance of the truck, and is able to automatically maintain a distance from the vehicle in front, accelerate, and also steer if the necessary system conditions are met, such as sufficient cornering radius or clearly visible road markings. Active Brake Assist5 provides greater protection for pedestrians, an emergency braking system that detects moving figures and applies maximum braking force.
In the fifth generation of The Actos, electronic rearview mirrors were also used for the first time. The new MirrorCam turns the Cockros cab into a multimedia cockpit, with two large color displays on the left and right A-pillars, and the primary color display behind the steering wheel and the touchscreen on the centre console make the production truck cab so advanced. Starting in June 2021, the latest generation of Actros is available as an optional second-generation Active Driver Assistance System (ADA2), which includes an emergency stop assist function that activates an emergency stop when the driver is not in control of the steering wheel, as well as visual and audible warnings. In addition, active side guard assist is also available, an improved turn assist system that no longer simply warns the driver of a pedestrian or rider moving on the co-pilot's side, but is now able to initiate braking operations at a turning speed of 20 km/h to stop the vehicle if the driver fails to respond to the warning in time.
The latest generation of Actros introduced the Actros L, a market segment, this year, including improved cab sound insulation, comfortable and spacious space, better sitting posture and optional newly designed LED headlamps.
For professional truck drivers who love to drive, trucks are their home. They value personal style and high comfort, and Mercedes-Benz trucks regularly introduce special limited models of The Atlas in their range of models, such as the Actos editions Black Liner and White Liner.
In 2021, Actros ushered in a new era of electrification. At the end of June, the first Mercedes-Benz Actros electric truck designed for heavy distribution transport was presented to the world public, and its technical core was a drive unit with two integrated motors and a two-stage transmission. Both motors offer impressive ride comfort and excellent vehicle power, while safe and locally zero-emission electric drives mean trucks can also be used for night deliveries and into areas where diesel cars are prohibited. Electrification is mercedes-benz trucking's explicit commitment to reducing carbon emissions.