Mercedes-Benz Zetros is a German high-mobility truck family used for military logistics, support, and mission-system carrier roles. Mercedes-Benz Defence Trucks lists 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, and 8x8 platform configurations with OM 460 inline-six diesel power, heavy-duty off-road driveline features, protected-cab options, and production centered on the Mercedes-Benz truck plant at Woerth am Rhein; German-backed deliveries have placed Zetros trucks in Ukrainian military service during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Daimler Truck reported more than 100 Zetros deliveries to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for military support and logistics tasks in 2023, and Ukraine's Ministry of Defence later said German-supplied Zetros trucks were already in active Armed Forces of Ukraine service.
Role detailsThe Zetros family uses a cab-behind-engine layout rather than a cab-over commercial-truck arrangement. Mercedes-Benz Defence Trucks presents the family as a high-payload off-road platform for military logistics, hazardous goods, and mission bodies, with drivetrain and cab options selected by axle layout and customer role.
Current technical data lists 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, 8x8/4, and 8x8/4 ENA platform types, plus tractor configurations for heavy-duty logistics.
Official data lists permanent all-wheel-drive configurations, two-speed transfer gear, differential locks, optional tyre-pressure regulation, and fording capability up to 800 mm on defense-range descriptions.
Daimler Truck introduced an ex-works protected cab first for the Zetros 6x6 and said protected variants from 4x4 to 8x8 would follow from the Woerth plant from 2025.
Recent public examples include Ukrainian support and logistics trucks, planned Bohdana artillery chassis, drone-port logistics demonstrators, and carrier studies for loitering munitions and counter-UAS systems.
Sources: Zetros platform technical data; Mercedes-Benz defence range; Zetros trucks delivered to Ukraine; Ukraine MoD Zetros Bohdana chassis; Daimler Truck Eurosatory 2026 portfolio.
Mercedes-Benz Defence Trucks treats Zetros as a modular cab-behind-engine truck family, with platform, tractor, protected-cab, and mission-system carrier configurations built around different axle layouts.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zetros 4x4 | Two-axle high-mobility platform or tractor configuration | Mercedes-Benz Defence Trucks lists 4x4 Zetros platform and tractor configurations; the Ukraine delivery source also describes Ukrainian transport variants across 16.5 to 40 tonne gross vehicle weights. Sources: Zetros platform technical data, Zetros trucks delivered to Ukraine |
| Zetros 6x6 | Three-axle platform, tractor, and protected-cab configuration | Daimler Truck identified the three-axle Zetros 6x6 as the first Zetros protected-cab configuration available directly from the Woerth plant, with broader protected-cab variants following. Sources: Zetros platform technical data, Zetros armored cab ex works |
| Zetros 8x8/4 | Four-axle all-wheel-drive heavy logistics platform | The 2024 portfolio expansion added 8x8 Zetros variants for military logistics and support roles, with the 8x8 family listed at up to 510 hp and 25 to 26.4 tonnes of payload depending configuration. Sources: Zetros 8x8 portfolio expansion, Zetros platform technical data |
| Zetros 8x8/4 ENA | Four-axle heavy platform with steered rear-axle arrangement | Mercedes-Benz Defence Trucks lists the 8x8/4 ENA as a triple-body platform configuration within the current Zetros platform technical table. Sources: Zetros platform technical data |
The Zetros is primarily a truck chassis, but recent public sources also identify it as a carrier for artillery and networked strike payloads.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 155 mm self-propelled howitzer | Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said 200 Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems were planned for delivery on new Zetros chassis in 2026; this supports the chassis relationship for that batch, not a claim that all Bohdana variants use Zetros. Sources: Ukraine MoD Zetros Bohdana chassis |
 | Medium-range loitering munition | Daimler Truck described a Zetros 2048A exhibit with a Helsing-developed multi-launch system for deploying multiple HX-2 loitering munitions as part of a networked reconnaissance and strike capability. |
Daimler Truck announced delivery of more than 100 Zetros trucks to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for military support and logistics tasks, funded through the German government's support initiative.
Sources: Zetros trucks delivered to Ukraine
Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks announced four-axle Zetros 8x8 variants and said the Zetros range would be available from 4x4 to 8x8 with or without a protected cab from a single source.
Sources: Zetros 8x8 portfolio expansion, Zetros armored cab ex works
Daimler Truck's 2024 announcement said Zetros 8x8 variants would be offered from 2025, while protected-cab versions across the 4x4 to 8x8 range would be produced successively from the Woerth plant.
Sources: Zetros 8x8 portfolio expansion, Zetros armored cab ex works
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said the Armed Forces of Ukraine were set to receive 200 Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems on new Zetros chassis in 2026 and noted that German-supplied Zetros trucks were already in Ukrainian service.
Sources: Ukraine MoD Zetros Bohdana chassis
Daimler Truck showed Zetros vehicles carrying partner systems at Eurosatory 2026, including a Zetros 3848A with Valhalla's SKYTHUNDER 300, a Zetros 2648A with Quantum Systems drone ports, and a Zetros 2048A with an HX-2 multi-launch study.
Sources: Daimler Truck Eurosatory 2026 portfolio
