Mercedes takes aim for Guiness World Record

Mercedes-Benz Trucks wants its battery-electric eActros 600 long-haul truck and trailer to reverse more than 100 kilometres without interruption and thus bring the previous Guinness World Record for this ‘discipline’ back to Germany. The previous record was set in the USA for a distance over 89 kilometres with a diesel truck.

The new record-attempting reverse drive is scheduled to take place on 4 June in Oschersleben in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. For the record attempt, cooperation has been announced with the associations Blicki e.V. and PROFI – Pro Fahrer-Image e. V., which will use the event as a platform for the promotion of road safety for children, as well as a “greater appreciation of driving as a profession.”

“As a passionate truck driver, it is an honor for me to try to set this record again. A lot has happened in terms of technology since my first record-breaking drive – and to date no one in the world has taken this record with an electric truck,” explained Marco Hellgrewe, initiator of the electric record attempt and driver of the eActros 600, adding: “The eActros 600 represents the future of electric mobility in long-distance haulage and shows how manufacturers are successfully breaking new ground. Reversing for so many hours is a big challenge, but the test drives so far have gone very well.”

Dirk Hendler, Managing Director of Blicki e.V. added: “This project is a great opportunity to raise awareness of road safety among children and families. We are excited to be part of this and spread our message in this way. With our nationwide workshops under the auspices of the Federal Minister of Transport, we have already trained more than 80,000 primary school children on how to interact with large vehicles.”

Electric vehicles have been setting new Guinness World Records increasingly of late, with Verge Motorcycles setting a record most recently for the longest journey by an electric motorcycle on a single charge. The Iveco eDaily set a towing record in 2023 for towing around 153 tonnes of weight. In 2022, the Chinese vehicle manufacturer Geely managed to set two records at once for the Zeekr 001: for the fastest drift by an electric car, as well as the fastest EV slalom record.

Update 05 June 2025

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has set a new Guinness World Record with its battery-electric eActros 600 long-haul truck and trailer. With 124.7 kilometres driven in reverse, the previous world record for uninterrupted truck reversing from 2020, which stood at around 89 kilometres and was set in the USA with a diesel truck, was beaten by around 36 kilometres.

“I’m incredibly proud to have brought back the record to Germany together with Mercedes-Benz Trucks – especially as it was a world first with an all-electric drive. By doing so, we have sent out a powerful message for the future of alternative drives,” said Marco Hellgrewe, initiator of the electric record attempt and driver of the eActros 600. “I am convinced that we have also drawn broad attention to the topics of road safety and driver image that are particularly important to me as an examiner of learner truck drivers, who tend to be younger. There have been many people from every area of society, including numerous experienced and learner truck drivers, who have spoken to me about the activity and gave me very positive feedback.”

daimlertruck.com, daimlertruck.com (update)