Pretoria, South Africa – Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) has pulled back the curtain on the next era of commercial transport at its landmark event, The Daimler Truck Experience 2025. Held at the Gerotek Testing Facility in Pretoria from 8 to 12 September, the event places customers and industry stakeholders front and centre of a revolutionary showcase that highlights DTSA’s cutting-edge technology, safety innovations, and holistic transport solutions.
Under the banner “For All Who Keep Africa Moving,” the five-day event offers an immersive journey through the latest advancements in truck design, efficiency, and safety. From dynamic product demonstrations to expert-led insights into the future of trucking, attendees are given an unparalleled opportunity to explore innovations that promise to reshape Southern Africa’s transport industry.
A Hands-On Experience with Next-Generation Trucks
The Daimler Truck Experience is more than a static exhibition. Attendees can engage directly with an extensive range of interactive activities:
- Electric Truck Demonstrations: The eActros and eCanter models hit the high-speed oval track, offering a first-hand feel for electric mobility in heavy-duty transport.
- Ride and Handling Sessions: Experience precision handling with Mercedes-Benz Actros models (2645LS/33, 2652LS/33, 4058S/39) and the FUSO TV33-400S, highlighting comfort, responsiveness, and driver-focused engineering.
- Gradient Climb Challenges: The Unimog U4000, FUSO FG 6-136TD, and FJ18-280 AT tackle steep inclines, demonstrating power, traction, and maneuverability.
- Straight Track Runs: The Mercedes-Benz Actros 2652LS/33 and eCanter showcase the vehicles’ acceleration, stability, and operational efficiency in a controlled, high-performance environment.
A highlight of the event is the launch of the Allison Automatic Transmission across the FUSO FJ range, including the FJ16230R SWB AT, FJ16-230R LWB AT, FJ18-280R SWB AT, and FJ18-280R LWB AT. Designed for modern transport operations, this transmission enhances productivity, optimizes performance, and reduces driver fatigue, ensuring trucks are safer, more efficient, and more reliable under the heaviest workloads.
Advancing Safety: Intelligent Systems in Action
Daimler Truck’s commitment to safety is evident in its live demonstrations of advanced assistance systems on the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2652LS/33 RE. Among the most innovative features:
- Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA 6): With 270-degree sensor fusion and the ability to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles even on bends, ABA 6 helps avoid collisions at speeds up to 70 km/h while reducing accident severity at higher speeds. Its three-stage warning system—visual-acoustic alerts, partial braking, and full automated braking—ensures optimal driver support.
- Active Side Guard Assist 2: Offering two-stage warnings and automatic braking in critical situations, this system protects vulnerable road users during turns or lane changes while reducing accident risk and potential property damage.
- Frontguard Assist: Monitors the area in front of the truck at speeds up to 15 km/h, providing visual and acoustic warnings to prevent low-speed collisions, particularly in dense urban or warehouse environments.
These innovations exemplify Daimler Truck’s ongoing drive to merge intelligent safety with operational efficiency, creating a transport ecosystem that reduces accidents, downtime, and costs while enhancing driver wellbeing.
A Full-Spectrum Customer Experience
DTSA distinguishes itself not only through vehicles but also via a fully integrated customer support ecosystem:
- Flexible Financing Solutions: Through Daimler Truck Financial Services and the newly introduced Daimler Truck Rental, operators can tailor ownership and rental options to suit their business models.
- Telematics and Fleet Optimization: The Daimler Truck Telematics Dashboard provides real-time insights to optimize fleet performance and minimize downtime.
- After-Sales Excellence: Mercedes-Benz Uptime and Daimler Truck Service24h Roadside Assist ensure proactive maintenance and emergency support, while the Daimler Truck Parts Portal enables easy access to essential components within 48 hours.
- TruckStore and Warranty Solutions: Supporting long-term value retention for new and used trucks, DTSA offers guaranteed future values and the newly launched TruckStore Warranty for peace of mind.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do,” says Olaf Petersen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at DTSA. “The Daimler Truck Experience is more than just an event—it’s a platform to connect directly with our customers, demonstrating how our latest innovations create real business value. From advanced technology to tailored transport solutions, we’re proud to showcase how Daimler Truck is shaping the future of mobility—together with our customers.”
Transforming Transport Operations
The Daimler Truck Experience underlines the company’s commitment to efficiency, safety, and sustainability across Southern Africa. With innovations like the Allison Automatic Transmission enhancing productivity, and safety systems such as ABA 6, Active Side Guard Assist 2, and Frontguard Assist protecting drivers and communities alike, DTSA is redefining what modern trucking can achieve.
From electric mobility to full-service support solutions, the event confirms one simple truth: Daimler Truck is not just keeping Africa moving—it’s driving it forward, smarter, safer, and more efficiently than ever before.
