Otto's Goes All-In: 22 Mercedes eActros 600 Trucks Replace an Entire Diesel Fleet

Swiss retailer Otto’s isn’t dipping a toe into electric freight — it’s jumping in with both feet. The company is swapping out its complete truck lineup for 22 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 battery-electric rigs, all operating out of its Sursee headquarters and serving the chain’s 140 stores across Switzerland.

The math behind the decision is simpler than it might sound. Each eActros 600 covers roughly 500 kilometers on a charge, and that figure lines up neatly with how Otto’s actually moves goods.

Fleet at a Glance: 22 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 units · ~500 km range per truck · 140 stores served · Charging from on-site solar

Why 500 km Is the Sweet Spot

CEO Mark Ineichen points out that the vast majority of the retailer’s daily runs fit comfortably inside that range. Most of them, in fact, stay under the 500-kilometer mark. Because each truck typically handles two to four routes a day and keeps circling back to Sursee, the depot becomes a natural charging hub — vehicles get topped up and prepped between assignments rather than sitting idle.

That return-to-base rhythm is what makes the switch work without range anxiety creeping into the operation.

Built Swiss, Charged by the Sun

The bodies came from domestic upfitter Lanz+Marti, which mounted all 22 units on the eActros 600 chassis. The order also bundled two-axle box trailers, letting the electric trucks run as road trains where the routes call for it.

On the energy side, Otto’s is leaning heavily on its own rooftop solar. Most of the charging power comes from the photovoltaic array at the Sursee depot, and panels at branch locations feed additional electricity into the company’s private grid.

A Pattern That’s Spreading Across Europe

The Otto’s order is part of a wider shift. European fleets are moving past the trial phase and committing to full electrification.

• Käppeli, a Swiss logistics operator, plans to bring Tesla Semis into service in 2027.
• H.Essers, which runs in 18 countries, recently took on 20 MAN and Mercedes-Benz electric trucks.
• Amazon received its first 27 eActros 600 units in Germany this September, with a 200-plus order behind it.

For Otto’s, the appeal is straightforward: a fleet that refuels where it parks, runs on self-generated power, and matches the daily duty cycle it was bought for. The diesel era at Sursee is winding down.