Mercedes-Benz‘s biggest problem with the new Actros is finding boats big enough to get the numbers here they need to fulfil orders. Things aren‘t going to get any better either, with the company launching the rigid variants at Brisbane.

Targeting medium to heavy-duty distribution and vocational work, the rigid family accommodates 12 to 32 tonne GVM in 4×2, 6×2 and 8×4 configurations.

On the stand in Brisbane were a 2530 6×2, and a 3243L 8×4. Testing regimes for the rigid range have been on a similar footing to their bigger siblings, with 1.8 million kilometres of field evaluation under their belts across a broad selection of tasks and customers.

All of the safety features you‘d expect from Mercedes are in place, as is the in-cab environment. On the one hand targeting vocational markets must put the frighteners on those who have not had to cope with the three-pointed star in their sandpit, but equally interesting is the fact that customers can now run the brand right from the 2660 on interstate work, all the way to the Vito in the last mile. That must have benefits for everything from service plans, to telematics, to training and even recruitment.

The company also launched their Elite support package to the Australian market, aimed at improving uptime for customers through improved diagnostics, parts availability, workmanship and communication, as well as their telematics product, developed and tested in Australia and available on IOS and Android app, as well as desktop.