The Mercedes-Benz Zetros is an off-road truck for extreme operations. It was first presented at the 2008 Eurosatory defence industry trade show in Paris. The Zetros is manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, Germany.[1] The truck is designed to be compatible with the C-130 Hercules transport and also fits into a standard German railway carriage.[2] In 2019 Mercedes-Benz presented a facelift of the Zetros with a more powerful engine and a bigger number of variants.[3]
Variants
The Zetros is available with an engine power of 360 hp (265 kW) up to 510 hp (375 kW)[3] in all-wheel drive and non all-wheel drive versions:
Although normally used as a truck, the Zetros has also been put to work as an off-road tractor unit in the middle east.[5] German company Harald Bruhn also introduced a Zetros-based agricultural trailer truck as the Secutor.[6]
Around 2 000 trucks are planned to be produced by the Algeria's National Company of Industrial Vehicles (SNVI) destined for the Algerian defence ministry.[7] Locally further developed into self-propelled artillery systems using the D-30 and T-12 gun systems.[8]
The Zetros is used as a fertilizer spreader in the South East of South Australia. It is a 4x4 version operated by Crossling Contractors based in Naracoorte.
In August 2016 Mercedes Benz has been awarded a contract to provide 330 trucks for the Chilean Army. The contract includes a batch of Zetros 2733 6x6 and Unimog U4000 4x4 vehicles.[11]
The first non military application of the Zetros 2733 was announced in June 2018 by the Costa Rican Firefighters as the organization acquired one. It will serve as transport for rescue crew and equipment in emergency situations as floods, hurricanes, storms, wild fires, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
The Finnish Defence Forces have acquired Zetros trucks to replace outdated Sisu Auto vehicles for transportation of both personnel and explosives.,[12]
Germany donated 20 Zetros 2733 A 6x6 trucks and 50 Zetros 1833 A 4x4 trucks to Jordan in order to be used for the logistics of the Jordanian security agencies when caring for refugees.[14][15]
The Mexican Army and Mexican Air Force have planned the purchase of 137 6x6 trucks, in three stages, beginning the first purchase of 46 in 2017. The Mexican Navy also operates an undisclosed number of Zetros trucks.
31 Mercedes Benz Zetros 3348 AS 6x6 with Dobrowolski DOB70W low bed semi-trailer with an option for 78 more sets ordered in October 2021 for tank transport duty. First 8 sets delivered by the end of 2023.[20]
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received 274 (as of January 2024) from Germany for use in Russo-Ukrainian war, with another 46 planned for delivery.[22]
The Canadian army selected GDLS-Canada representing the Power Team as bid winner for the LVM (Logistics Vehicle Modernisation) programme. The contract was signed in June 2024 with the Power Team which joins forces from Manac, Marshall Land Systems, Mercedes Benz and Soframe. The contract includes: [23]
In 2016, Mercedes-Benz presents and exhibit the Zetros in the Directorate of Arsenals, the plant of the former TAMSE in Boulogne. As reported by the Defensa site, the Argentine Army is a former customer of Mercedes-Benz. The idea is that the Zetros can replace, in a gradual way, the current fleet of Unimog and MB 1114.[24]