One hundred and twenty-five years have passed since Mercedes-Benz unveiled the world’s first motorised truck. In what was quickly recognised as a standout moment for the automotive industry, engineer Gottlieb Daimler, one of the two founders of Daimler-Benz AG (the other being Carl Benz), unveiled his invention in 1896. The three-pointed-star is testament of the brand Mercedes-Benz that is the most famous brand of the former Daimler-Benz AG.
A triumph of engineering, the truck known as the Phoenix had a four horsepower strong, two-cylinder engine which linked to the rear axle by a belt. Protected by helical springs, this engine was somewhat sensitive to vibrations (not least because the vehicle ran on hard iron wheels). The driver meanwhile was positioned up front on a bench seat and used a large wheel mounted on a vertical column to steer.
It is also a quarter of a century since the company honoured the centenary of the Phoenix by launching the pioneering Mercedes-Benz Actros. This is the first truck of its kind with components entirely controlled by a CAN-BUS system and electronic brake system.
The Actros, which was specifically intended for long-distance and haulage, is now in its fifth generation and continues to be considered the premium, first choice truck for long-haul, heavy-duty distribution.
To add to this, 75-years have now passed since the invention of the first Unimog, a vehicle that truly encapsulates the art of Mercedes-Benz engineering.
