The naming of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 as International Truck of the Year 2025 has marked a significant milestone for the manufacturer, as it is the tenth time a Mercedes-Benz vehicle has taken out the award over its almost 50-year history.
The International Truck of the Year recognition was first awarded to the Seddon Atkinson 200 in 1977. Mercedes-Benz’s first win came in 1985 with the LN.
The Actros range of Mercedes-Benz trucks has been well recognised in the award in recent years. The Actros was named Truck of the Year in 2012 and finished third in 2017.
The Actros with MirrorCam won the award in 2020, while the first eActros came third win 2022. The Mercedes-Benz Actros with new OM471 engine also came third in 2023.
The recognition for the eActros 600 has come just days after parent company Daimler Group AG announced commercial construction of the vehicle would start later this year.
“We are proud and excited the jury selected our eActros 600 as the ‘International Truck of the Year 2025’,” Mercedes-Benz Truck CEO Karin Rådström says.
“Almost all members of the jury have already spent time behind the wheel, testing the eActros 600 on roads across Europe – so they had the opportunity to personally experience the truck’s ability to perform.
“Today is a proud day for the teams that have worked so hard in the last years to make this truck a leader in the market.”
Five of the seven vehicles on this year’s ITOY shortlist were battery-electric models with zero tailpipe emissions. This year marks the second time an electric truck has won the award.
The annual award goes to the truck launched in the previous 12 months that has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency.
Judging is based on a number of critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, energy efficiency, environmental footprint and total cost of ownership.
The jury voting on the award consisted of 24 editors and senior journalists from the commercial vehicle press representing 24 of Europe’s most important truck magazines.
The jury appreciated the powertrain’s performance, based on twin 400 kW electric motors on the electric axle and three LFP battery packs of 207 kWh each.
With over 600 kWh of installed capacity, a standard 40-tonne tractor-semitrailer can achieve a range of over 500 kilometres without the need for immediate recharging.
The eActros 600 overcame tough challenges from Volvo Trucks’ Aero range and the Iveco S-eWay electric tractor to take home the award.
MAN’s hydrogen combustion truck the MAN hTGX won the Truck Innovation Award. It is the third time MAN has won the award.
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