Daimler Truck is set to launch series production of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 in November, with a major component known as the “front box” now in production at its Mannheim engine plant.
Positioned in the former engine space, the front box comprises over 1,000 parts and integrates key control units, high-voltage systems, and an electric air compressor essential to the eActros 600’s functionality, though it does not directly power the vehicle.
Built on a layered structure to accommodate the numerous components, the front box is the result of a dedicated team at Mannheim, which Daimler Truck plans to expand from 25 to as many as 170 employees. After a year-long renovation, the Mannheim plant now features a flexible assembly line designed for various product variants and future technologies.
Andreas Moch, Mannheim site manager, said, “After a successful prototype phase, we are now pleased to move into series production,” highlighting the plant’s role as Daimler’s center of excellence for battery technology.
As production gears up, the eActros 600 will officially debut in series production at Wörth in November, with the first customer vehicles expected by year-end.
This transition marks a key step in the evolution of Daimler’s long-standing Mannheim engine plant, which Chairman of the Works Council Bruno Buschbacher emphasizes as crucial in advancing the site’s role in producing core components for alternative powertrains.