Mercedes-Benz Trucks opens 130th-anniversary Deutschlandfahrt 2026 at Wörth plant
Mercedes-Benz Trucks marks 130 years of trucks by opening the Deutschlandfahrt 2026 historic vehicle tour, covering 1,086 kilometers across four European countries.
- 130 years
- 1,086 km
- 300 km
- 1899
What Happened
Mercedes-Benz Trucks opened the Deutschlandfahrt 2026 on August 27 at its Wörth plant, launching a historic vehicle tour that covers roughly 1,086 kilometers through Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Organized by ETM Verlag with commercial vehicle entrepreneur and vintage vehicle enthusiast Joachim Fehrenkötter, the event brings together classic commercial vehicles from a wide range of manufacturers. For decades, it has been one of Europe's most important events for historic commercial vehicles. The 2026 edition marks the 130th anniversary of Gottlieb Daimler's first truck, which the company says laid the foundation for modern road freight transport. This year's route places a special focus on the Benelux region.
Opening at the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant; first stage of about 300 km to Lentzweiler, Luxembourg.
Tour concludes in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, after about 1,086 km.
“130 years of trucks stand for 130 years of innovation, reliability, and partnership with our customers. The "Deutschlandfahrt" brings this history to life in a unique way. With our Mercedes-Benz Trucks brand, we have been a defining part of commercial vehicle history since the very beginning of this development, and we continue to actively shape its future. When historic commercial vehicles from a”
Mercedes-Benz Trucks is participating in the tour with selected vehicles from its own heritage, including the original Daimler Motor Truck from 1899, one of the oldest vehicles in the collection. Together with other historic vehicles, it illustrates the development of technology, efficiency, safety, and driver comfort across generations. The company says the tour bridges the gap between the beginnings of the truck and its current and future transport solutions, highlighting the role commercial vehicles have played in mobility, supply chains, and economic development for the past 130 years.
- Hulst
- Wognum
- Druten
- Eindhoven
- Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia (conclusion)
Previously from Daimler Truck AG
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has unveiled a limited '130 Years Trucks Edition' at IAA Transportation. The edition commemorates Gottlieb Daimler's invention of the truck in 1896.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Daimler Truck AG's official releases.
Why this matters
The tour marks 130 years since Gottlieb Daimler built the world's first truck, a milestone that underlies modern road freight. For newcomers, it shows how trucks evolved and why road transport matters to supply chains and the economy. Mercedes-Benz Trucks uses the event to connect its heritage with current and future transport solutions.
Terms in This Story
- Historic vehicle tour
- An organized road journey featuring vintage commercial vehicles.
- Commercial vehicle
- A vehicle used for transporting goods or paying passengers, such as a truck or bus.
- Road freight transport
- The movement of goods by road using trucks.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.