Hanover, Germany — September 14, 2026 | As the first truck maker to take the stage at IAA Transportation 2026, Daimler Truck did not simply present vehicles — it presented a vision. The world’s leading commercial-vehicle show opened with two bold statements: a battery-electric heavy-duty truck preparing to circle the globe, and a liquid-hydrogen truck entering real customer operations.
Around the World in 80 Charges
Professional truck driver and content creator Tobias Wagner will depart Hanover at the close of IAA in a specially modified Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. His objective: travel approximately 45,000 km through about 30 countries on five continents, completing what would be the first circumnavigation of the globe in a battery-electric heavy-duty truck.
“I want to show the world what battery-electric trucks can already achieve today,” Wagner said during the Mercedes-Benz Trucks press conference.
The expedition vehicle is based on a production eActros 600 assembled at Mercedes-Benz’s Wörth plant. Key specifications include:
- 621 kWh total installed battery capacity from three lithium-iron-phosphate packs
- Living module, off-road equipment and adapted tires for global conditions
- Additional charging unit for locations without dedicated heavy-duty chargers
- CCS1 and NACS adapters for North America
- Planned arrival in Seattle in March or April 2027
The journey is expected to take about a year and require no more than 80 charging stops.
Liquid Hydrogen: More than 1,000 km Range
In parallel, Daimler continues developing the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2, which made its public debut at IAA. Key details:
- Liquid hydrogen fuel with range well beyond 1,000 km per fill
- Retains cellcentric BZA150 fuel cell tested in first-generation GenH2 trucks
- Customer trial fleet has collectively travelled nearly 600,000 km
- Small series of approximately 100 NextGenH2 trucks planned for German customers by end of 2026
- Nearly half of the allocation already reserved
Daimler is targeting the technology at demanding long-haul operations where flexibility, extended range and short refuelling times are priorities.
Two-Pronged Strategy
The two vehicles illustrate Daimler’s strategy: prioritize batteries where routes and charging infrastructure permit, while developing fuel cells for applications requiring longer ranges and shorter refuelling stops. Both vehicles now share several components, simplifying service and parts logistics.
130 Years of Trucks Anniversary Edition
Mercedes-Benz Trucks also unveiled the “130 Years Trucks Edition”, commemorating Gottlieb Daimler’s invention of the first truck in 1896. Limited to 400 units, the edition is available on both the diesel-powered Actros L and the battery-electric eActros 600 — the first time Mercedes-Benz Trucks has offered a special edition with both powertrain technologies.
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