Mercedes-Benz Zetros

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. The truck is designed to be compatible with the C-130 Hercules transport and also fits into a standard German railway carriage. In 2019, Mercedes-Benz presented a facelift of the Zetros; it features a more powerful engine and a bigger number of variants.

Variants

The Zetros is available with an engine power of 360 hp (265 kW) up to 510 hp (375 kW) in all-wheel drive and non all-wheel drive versions:
* Chassis, Tipper or Tractor
* 4x2, 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, 8x8

Although normally used as a truck, the Zetros has also been put to work as an off-road tractor unit in the middle east. German company Harald Bruhn also introduced a Zetros-based agricultural trailer truck as the Secutor.

File:Mercedes-Benz Zetros as a relief vehicle for the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.jpg, Mercedes-Benz Zetros 1833 as a relief vehicle for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
File:Mercedes-Benz Zetros 1833 at IAA 2014.JPG, Zetros 1833 RV at IAA 2014
File:60 Jahre Unimog - Wörth 2011 301 Entwicklungswerkstatt (5797108035).jpg, Rolling chassis of a Zetros 2733
File:Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 6x6 Rüstwagen.jpg, alt=Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 6x6 Heavy fire rescue truck, Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 6x6 technical rescue truck
File:Mercedes-Benz Zetros GTF 6x6.JPG, Zetros 2733 of the German Army
File:Mercedes-Benz ZETROS with Mercedes-Benz EMPL.jpg, Mercedes-Benz ZETROS with Mercedes-Benz EMPL platform of Lithuanian army

Technical characteristics

The facelifted Zetros has now one type of engine in all variants.
*Engine: 12.816 cc inline 6 cylinder diesel

*Transmission: 16 speed manual transmission with shift lever, controlled via control cable, pneumatic power-assisted
*mechanical differential locks on front and rear axles and in the transfer case
*Top speed: 55 mph
*fording depths up to 0.8m

Operators

Current operators

;
: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. Locally further developed into self-propelled artillery systems using the D-30 and T-12 gun systems.

;
: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.

;
:The Bulgarian army ordered the Zetros in 2009 to transport personnel and supplies. As of 2012, it operates 335 trucks with 30 more on order.

;
: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.
:In May 2025, 33 Zetros 2036A were ordered by the Chilean Army.

;
: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.,

;
:The French Air Force ordered the MICA VL air defence system. The launchers are installed on Zetros 2733.

;
:The German army has ordered a total of 110 armoured Zetros vehicles, 72 of which are supposed to serve in logistics units.

;
: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.

;
:Eight Zetros 3643 6x6 tow trucks acquired in 2019 with Mercedes-Benz EMPL platform for PzH 2000 or Bergepanzer 2 transportation.
:141 Zetros 2733 6x6 transport trucks equipped with cranes acquired in 2023; they will delivered by 2030.

;
: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.

;
:Operated by the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

;
:The Turkish Armed Forces use Zetros as HISAR carrier.

;
:As of January 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received:
:* 262 logistics trucks
:* 78 tankers based on the Zetros
:On order:
:* 20 refrigerator Zetros.

Future operators

; (1,500)
:The Canadian army selected General Dynamics Land Systems Canada in a joint venture with Marshall Canada as bid winner for the LVM (Logistics Vehicle Modernisation) programme. The contract signed in June 2024 provides for:
:* 1,000 light trucks (Zetros 4x4)
:* 500 heavy trucks (Zetros 8x8)

Possible operators

;
: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.

References

External links

Zetros Official Site

{{Mercedes-Benz_trucks_2000-2050

Zetros
Zetros
6×4 vehicles