Daimler Truck outlines hydrogen truck pilot production in Germany
Daimler Truck has confirmed plans to manufacture a limited series of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Germany, positioning the programme as a pilot step toward zero-emission long-haul transport in Europe. The announcement was made during a meeting in Berlin between Daimler Truck executives and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport.
For eeNews Europe readers, the development is relevant as it highlights how heavy-duty OEMs are translating hydrogen roadmaps into early production activity, while also exposing dependencies on infrastructure rollout, policy alignment, and supplier readiness across Europe.
Pilot production of hydrogen trucks at Wörth plant
Daimler Truck plans to build 100 units of its Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 fuel cell truck at its Wörth am Rhein manufacturing site in Rhineland-Palatinate. The vehicles are intended for long-distance freight applications and are expected to enter customer operation from late 2026. According to the company, the trucks use liquid hydrogen storage and are designed to achieve operating ranges of more than 1,000 km when fully loaded.
The pilot series is being developed with public funding support from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, alongside regional backing from the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. Daimler Truck has positioned the programme as a bridge between prototype development and potential series production, rather than a full commercial launch.
Policy alignment and infrastructure dependencies
During the Berlin meeting, Daimler Truck emphasised that wider adoption of hydrogen trucks will depend on coordinated policy frameworks linking CO₂ reduction targets with the rollout of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The company pointed to Germany’s extension of toll exemptions for zero-emission trucks until mid-2031 as a measure that could improve the business case for early adopters, while arguing that similar approaches may be needed across other European markets.
Beyond vehicle incentives, Daimler Truck highlighted the importance of building a European hydrogen supply chain, including fuel cell components and storage systems. The company suggested that strengthening regional supplier ecosystems could potentially reduce reliance on non-European technology sources and support industrial competitiveness over the longer term.
Hydrogen’s role in heavy-duty decarbonisation
While battery-electric trucks are increasingly deployed in regional distribution, hydrogen fuel cell systems are being positioned by several OEMs as a complementary solution for long-haul transport, where payload, refuelling time, and range remain critical constraints. Daimler Truck’s hydrogen truck initiative reflects this broader industry view, although large-scale deployment remains contingent on infrastructure availability and cost reductions.
The limited production run at Wörth provides an early indicator of how hydrogen technologies may transition from demonstration projects to operational fleets in Europe’s heavy-duty transport sector, offering engineers insight into system integration, durability requirements, and real-world operating data.
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