Daimler Truck’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tractor Takes Next Step
Serial Production Start Date for Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck Slips to the Early 2030s
Key Takeaways:
- Daimler Truck said its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 prototype will enter a second testing phase in 2026 as the company builds 100 units for fleet trials.
- The company delayed serial production to the early 2030s, citing slower hydrogen refueling infrastructure deployment and mirroring similar setbacks at Kenworth and Peterbilt.
- Daimler Truck plans broader fleet placements as 2026 ends and expects the GenH2 to launch in Europe first while it works to establish a common hydrogen refueling standard.
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Testing of Daimler Truck’s prototype Mercedes-Benz GenH2 truck is set to enter a new phase with a second group of carriers, the parent company of Freightliner and Western Star said.
Five fleets carried out the first phase of on-road testing in 2024 and 2025. The second phase with five additional carriers will take place in 2026, the truck and bus manufacturer said. As the second phase progresses, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will manufacture 100 GenH2 trucks at its cornerstone Wörth plant in Germany that will then be placed in service with fleets as 2026 comes to a close, its parent company said Nov. 13.
Serial production of the trucks, however, will not start until the start of the 2030s. Previously, Daimler Truck expected to begin serial production toward the end of the 2020s.
The delayed start to serial production was first disclosed during Daimler Truck’s Capital Markets Day in July. Daimler Truck said slower-than-expected deployment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure led to the delayed rollout.
The GenH2 is based on a conventional Mercedes-Benz Actros cabover longhaul truck. The truck powertrains use liquid hydrogen rather than gaseous hydrogen, the choice of technology for rival fuel cell truck developer Hyundai and former peer Nikola. Daimler Truck also wants to establish a common refueling standard for hydrogen-powered trucks.
Daimler Truck is not the only hydrogen fuel cell truck manufacturer to delay production in 2025 as ambitions in the sector tackle multiple hurdles.
The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 truck went through winter testing in Switzerland. (Daimler Truck)
Kenworth’s hydrogen fuel cell T680 tractors did not begin production in 2025 as previously scheduled. Paccar stablemate Peterbilt also delayed the start of production for a fuel cell configuration of its flagship Model 579 on-highway tractor.
Rhenus, DHL Among Test Fleets
Mercedes-Benz Trucks will deploy five GenH2 semis with carriers Hornbach; Reber Logistik; Teva Germany, through its Ratiopharm brand; Rhenus; and DHL Supply Chain.
A DHL Supply Chain division also trialed hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 tractors in the U.S. The carrier’s parent company, DHL Group, ranks No. 5 on the Transport Topics Top 50 list of the largest freight companies in the world. Rhenus Group ranks No. 33 on the global freight TT50.
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“With the fuel cell truck in combination with our fully electric refrigerated trailer, we’re bringing a zero-carbon transport solution to the road that is fully powered by renewable energy,” DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps CEO Katrin Hölter said.
“Its deployment in operations on routes across Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia proves that forward-looking, sustainable logistics already works today — even for sensitive frozen and fresh products,” Hölter added.
Rhenus Duisburg Site Manager Thomas Ippen noted: “The use of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 truck marks an important step for Rhenus in advancing our sustainability goals in heavy-duty transport. As an international logistics service provider, we want to demonstrate that climate protection and efficient transport logistics can go hand in hand.”
“The Duisburg site, as a central hub within our network, offers ideal conditions to test hydrogen technology in daily operations and to gain valuable experience for its broader application,” he added.
The GenH2 powertrains uses liquid hydrogen rather than gaseous hydrogen. (TT File Photo)
Initial testing of the GenH2 began in 2024. Among the fleet owners that took part in the first phase of testing were Amazon, Air Products, Ineos, Holcim and Wiedmann & Winz.
E-commerce giant Amazon.com ranks No. 1 on the TT Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America and No. 1 on the global freight TT50. It also ranks No. 15 on the TT Top 100 list of the largest private carriers.
Daimler Truck expects to deploy the GenH2 in Europe first.
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