Duvenbeck Deploys First MAN eTruck in Volkswagen’s Plant Logistics

German haulage company Duvenbeck has put its first MAN eTruck into service, marking a step toward more sustainable logistics. The tractor unit, configured as a lowliner, is now operating within Volkswagen’s plant logistics network.

Duvenbeck had previously committed to expanding its electric fleet, signing a letter of intent in 2023 to purchase 120 eTGXs from MAN’s eTruck lineup. The first of these electric trucks was delivered in December 2024, following an earlier handover to Elflein, another logistics company. Since mid-February, the first MAN eTGX Lowliners have been actively transporting vehicle components between Duvenbeck’s Herne site and Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant.

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“This means that the first BEV Lowliners with a loading height of three metres are running over a medium distance in our regional forwarding network for materials logistics and are proving their cost-effectiveness and suitability for everyday use,” said Simon Motter, Head of Volkswagen Group Logistics. The Herne facility consolidates shipments from various suppliers before dispatching them to the Volkswagen plant.

In the current phase, a single MAN eTGX is covering the 317-kilometre route, requiring a round trip of 634 kilometres. Charging takes place at Duvenbeck’s Herne site and at public charging stations along the way. Plans are in place to expand charging infrastructure at Duvenbeck’s Peine facility near Wolfsburg, enabling a new logistics strategy. Once operational, two eTrucks will handle the Herne-to-Peine route, where trailers will be swapped before another electric truck completes the final stretch to Wolfsburg. This setup will reduce the main route’s round trip to 520 kilometres, while the Peine-Wolfsburg leg will span 110 kilometres.

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Volkswagen’s adoption of MAN eTrucks aligns with its goTOzero impact logistics program, which aims to cut CO2 emissions in transportation. MAN Truck & Bus highlights the eTGX Ultra’s suitability for logistics operations, particularly in the automotive sector. “The MAN eTGX Ultra is the perfect zero-emission solution for automotive logistics. No other series-produced electric semitrailer tractor can pull trailers with an interior height of three metres. This makes it the ideal choice for transport operations with high volume requirements,” said Friedrich Baumann, Chief Sales & Customer Solutions Officer at MAN Truck & Bus.

Duvenbeck views the integration of electric trucks as a key step in advancing sustainability. “By the end of this month, we will have around 15 MAN eTGX Ultra Low Liners in our fleet. The experience we gain every day on the road actively contributes to further shaping and promoting sustainable logistics,” said Hakan Bicil, CEO of the Duvenbeck Group.