IAA 2018: Best-of Video

After the 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles, one thing is clear: the commercial vehicle industry is on an innovative path. And the new Actros is leading the way.

Partially-automated driving, intelligent services, outstanding safety technology and progressive design – in Hanover, the new Actros demonstrated just how forward-looking trucks can be today. The new Actros – the safest, most efficient and best-connected truck of all time.

Thousands of visitors headed to the Mercedes-Benz exhibition to learn about ground-breaking innovations in hall 14/15 as well as in the outdoor areas.

Revolution with MirrorCam and Active Drive Assist.

In the focal point here: the new Actros, revolutionising the driver's workplace with MirrorCam and multimedia cockpit, as well as numerous other pioneering assistance systems. Active Drive Assist, for example, enables semi-autonomous driving in trucks for the first time. Active Brake Assist 5 supports safe driving with improved person recognition, and the optimised Predictive Powertrain Control now also helps on out-of-town roads with its predictive driving style.

Intuitive operation.

These functions and the intuitive operation of the multimedia cockpit were tried out by drivers at different stations in the Actros Experience Room. They experienced the first stages of the three mega-trends: automated, networked and electric driving. These three topics were also the focus of the Future Talks. That's because Mercedes-Benz Uptime uses intelligent networking to increase the availability of the Actros and co.

Top-level comfort and apps like on a smartphone.

The multimedia cockpit offers ideal conditions for integrating apps from the Fleetboard Truck app portal – just like on a smartphone.. If required, the driver receives applications from his company that make his everyday life easier. These can include apps ranging from Truck Parking Europe to the Fleetboard deployment analysis, or even a transport management app.

All-electric driving for heavy trucks.

The eActros, which is manufactured in small-scale series production and is now already in the hands of some customers, was the eye-catcher among the electric drives. Right next to it was the Actros NGT with natural gas engine.

Limited edition: the Actros Edition 1.

In addition to CharterWay and TruckWorks, the RoadStars Show Truck with its activities was a clear public favourite in the outdoor sector. In the exhibition hall, the Actros Edition 1, limited to 400 vehicles, was a real sensation. Not even German Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (Christian Social Union) could resist this attraction. He boarded the truck, had Mercedes-Benz Trucks boss Stefan Buchner explain the innovations to him, pulled out his smartphone and photographed the multimedia cockpit. 

The highlights from hall 14/15 included the Driver's Inn and The BossHoss autograph session. They can be seen in the RoadStars film "Best of IAA 2018".

From the 20th to the 27th September, a total of around 250,000 visitors flocked to the trade fair grounds. Visitors were able to experience future trends in the industry among 2174 exhibitors from 48 countries: 435 world premières and over 100 European premières underlined the position of the IAA for commercial vehicles as a worldwide leading trade fair in its segment.

Photos: Sebastian Vollmert
Video: Martin-Schneider Lau