Daimler Truck took top prize for scaling the use of electrified trucks in inbound logistics for German plants through its ‘Electrify Inbound Logistics’ project.
The commercial vehicle manufacturer took home the VDA Logistics Award 2025 for its Electrify Inbound Logistics initiative, in which Daimler Truck has implemented a significant number of electric trucks into its logistics across German plants. The jury said that “no other company has yet implemented the use of e-trucks in this way, and with a tight schedule for integrating its freight forwarders while maintaining cost-effectiveness in the overall cost analysis.”
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) gives out the award annually.
The Electrify Inbound Logistics project, launched in early 2023 and led by Mercedes-Benz Trucks, targets full electrification of inbound deliveries at the OEM’s Wörth plant in Germany by 2026, with other production sites in Gaggenau, Kassel, and Mannheim to follow. This shift will significantly reduce local emissions within Daimler Truck’s direct supply chain.
Since launching the initiative, Daimler Truck has electrified almost 20% of its inbound transport, with Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 and 400 deployed for regional routes, covering 2m kilometres in 2024. The new long-distance eActros 600, capable of 500km per charge, has been in series production at Wörth since the end of last year. Once the four sites are fully electrified, a significant part of Daimler Truck’s supply chain will become locally emission-free.
The firm is working with its freight logistics partners to gradually replace daily deliveries with electric trucks. To ensure feasibility, comprehensive route analyses, infrastructure assessments and economic evaluations are being conducted.
As a result, Daimler Truck has established charging infrastructure across its plants and warehouses, with 15 charging stations currently operational at Wörth, including six fast charging stations (400 kW). At the other sites, seven charging stations are in operation, with a further 14 fast-charging stations planned for 2025.
Through the Daimler Truck brand TruckCharge, launched in Europe recently, the company is ensuring scalability of electrification throughout the supply chain. TruckCharge is combining services related to electric infrastructure and the charging of electric trucks, by integrating consulting, charging infrastructure and operation of the electrified depot for freight forwarders.
Beyond the project, Daimler Truck wants to use its learnings and best practices and apply them more broadly across its supply chain. “The aim is to transfer all the jointly gained insights into a new sustainable series production process,” Daimler Truck said in a statement.
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