Mercedes-Benz’s eActros 600 Electric Truck Sets Guinness World Record by Backing Into History, Literally

On a crisp June morning in 2025, a battery-powered beast of a truck rolled backward across a racetrack in Oschersleben, Germany, and into the record books. Mercedes-Benz Trucks, with its eActros 600, didn’t just nudge the bar for the longest distance driven in reverse by an articulated truck—it obliterated it, covering 124.7 kilometers and snatching a Guinness World Record.

Marco Hellgrewe, a 50-year-old German Armed Forces officer and truck enthusiast, sat behind the wheel for this marathon of mirrors. He’s no stranger to reversing records, having set one in 2008 by backing a diesel truck 64 kilometers. This time, he pushed the eActros 600—a fully electric, long-haul semi-trailer tractor—through 476 turns on a tight, car-friendly circuit at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The track’s 14 sharp bends demanded precision, and Hellgrewe delivered, averaging 20 kilometers per hour over six hours and 22 minutes. “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,” Hellgrewe said, his voice brimming with pride. “The very long trip demanded an enormous effort—for this reason alone, it was a great help that the eActros 600 and its assistance systems make driving so much easier.”

A key player in Hellgrewe’s success was the eActros 600’s MirrorCam, a camera-based system that replaces traditional side mirrors with high-definition displays. This wasn’t just a flashy upgrade—it was a game-changer for the reverse-driving record. The MirrorCam offered Hellgrewe a crystal-clear view of the truck’s surroundings, with features like wide-angle mode for maneuvering, distance lines to gauge objects behind, and a swiveling camera image that adjusted during tight cornering. It even helped monitor the vehicle during breaks. Paired with Sideguard Assist, which uses the MirrorCam’s display to flash visual warnings in tricky traffic scenarios, the system made navigating the racetrack’s twists and turns safer and less stressful.

Mercedes-Benz didn’t pick this challenge out of a hat. The company aimed to shine a spotlight on electrification, road safety, and the evolving image of truck drivers. The eActros 600, their flagship electric truck, was the perfect candidate. With a battery capacity exceeding 600 kilowatt-hours and a range of 500 kilometers on a single charge, it’s built for long-haul journeys that rival diesel trucks. Rainer Müller-Finkeldei, Head of Product Engineering at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, saw the record as more than a trophy. “Marco Hellgrewe’s unusual trip in the service of transformation towards alternative drives will surely have a certain signaling effect for the industry and for society,” he said,.

The previous record, set in 2020 in the USA with a diesel truck, stood at 89 kilometers. Mercedes-Benz didn’t just edge it out—they added 36 kilometers to the tally. The attempt unfolded on a closed racetrack to avoid the unpredictable hiccups of public roads, like traffic or sudden stops. But the story doesn’t end there. After claiming the record, Hellgrewe and the eActros 600 took to public roads, reversing an additional 30 kilometers to Halberstadt under police escort. This wasn’t part of the official record but a flex of the truck’s real-world capability. “Reversing for so many hours is a big challenge, but the test drives so far have gone very well,” Hellgrewe noted before the attempt, hinting at the grueling focus required.

The eActros 600 is a production vehicle, designed to haul 40 tons across Europe with zero emissions. Its electric drive axle, pumping out 400 kW continuously and peaking at 600 kW, pairs with advanced aerodynamics to sip energy efficiently. During a 2024 European testing tour, the truck covered over 15,000 kilometers across 22 countries, proving its mettle in real-world conditions.

Reversing a 40-ton truck for over six hours isn’t just physically taxing—it’s a mental gauntlet. The eActros 600’s assistance systems, like its Multimedia Cockpit Interactive 2 and safety features, eased the strain, but the feat still required laser focus. “My thanks go out to Mercedes-Benz Trucks for the excellent support which made the new record possible,” Hellgrewe said.

With companies like Amazon and Holcim ordering hundreds of these trucks, the shift to electric is accelerating. Müller-Finkeldei put it bluntly: “Like no other e-truck with the star at the front, our eActros 600 stands for the fact that the right electric vehicles are available.”
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