Mercedes-Benz Trucks is expanding its battery-electric truck lineup with the introduction of the eActros Lowliner, a new model designed for high-volume freight transport and automotive logistics.
The company plans to officially unveil the vehicle at the IAA Transportation exhibition in Hanover in September, with customer orders expected to open in the third quarter of 2026. Production is scheduled to begin at the Wörth am Rhein plant in Germany during the second quarter of 2027.
Electric Lowliner Targets Automotive Logistics
Lowliner trucks are designed with a fifth-wheel height of just 950 mm, allowing them to haul mega trailers with an internal loading height of three meters.
The configuration is widely used in automotive logistics because it enables significantly greater cargo volume. Mega trailers can accommodate up to 99 standard lattice boxes on a third stacking level, compared with 66 boxes in conventional semi-trailers.
Until now, battery-electric Lowliner offerings have been limited, with MAN introducing the eTGX Lowliner and Swiss vehicle specialist Designwerk launching an electric Lowliner solution earlier in the decade.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks is now entering the segment with its own battery-electric alternative.
Based on eActros 600 Platform
The new model is built on the technology platform of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, which entered the market at the end of 2024.
Achim Puchert, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said the vehicle broadens the company’s electric transport offering.
“The eActros Lowliner marks the next step in the expansion of our battery-electric long-haul portfolio. It is consistently designed for high-volume transport with mega trailers and is based on the proven technology of the eActros 600. This significantly broadens the range of applications available to our customers once again.”
The truck will be offered as a 4×2 tractor unit with a 4,000 mm wheelbase and is designed to match the fifth-wheel height and ground clearance of comparable diesel-powered Lowliner models.
According to Mercedes-Benz Trucks, this will allow fleet operators to integrate the electric variant into existing logistics operations without requiring trailer modifications.
Two Battery Configurations Available
The eActros Lowliner will be available in two versions featuring lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology.
The eActros 400 Lowliner will use two battery packs, each rated at 207 kWh, for a total installed capacity of 414 kWh.
The larger eActros 600 Lowliner will feature three battery packs, providing a combined capacity of 621 kWh.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks expects the eActros 600 Lowliner to deliver a driving range similar to the standard eActros 600, which can travel approximately 500 kilometers on a single charge at a gross combination weight of 40 tonnes.
Payload and Charging Capabilities
The company said the lighter two-battery eActros 400 Lowliner will offer a higher payload capacity than the three-battery version.
The eActros 400 Lowliner can carry up to 24 tonnes of payload, while the eActros 600 Lowliner is rated for approximately 21 tonnes.
Charging is supported through a CCS2 connector with charging power of up to 400 kW. Mercedes-Benz Trucks estimates charging from 10% to 80% takes around 46 minutes for the two-battery model and approximately 70 minutes for the three-battery version.
Both variants will also be prepared for future Megawatt Charging System (MCS) compatibility through an optional charging interface.
Growing Competition in Electric Freight Transport
The launch reflects increasing competition among truck manufacturers seeking to electrify long-haul and high-volume freight operations.
By introducing a battery-electric Lowliner, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is targeting sectors such as automotive logistics that require maximum cargo volume while working toward reducing transport-related emissions.
The new model places the company alongside competitors including MAN and Designwerk in a niche but strategically important segment of the European commercial vehicle market.