MAN Truck & Bus is rolling out a new delivery system that incorporates electric trucks and rail transport. After the initial rail route, two MAN eTGX battery-electric trucks handle the last-mile operations, operated by long-term logistics partner VEGA International.
Most long-distance transport for MAN’s e-trucks now moves by rail. At a logistics terminal in Rheine, near Osnabrück in Germany, two MAN eTGX battery-electric trucks handle the final stage of delivery within a radius of about 300 kilometers. According to MAN, the new approach can reduce annual carbon emissions by approximately 2,700 tons.
Significant carbon savings
VEGA International, MAN’s logistics partner, has been shifting deliveries to rail since 2023. The company reports that it has already transported more than 11,000 MAN trucks this way, cutting roughly 6,000 tons of carbon emissions.
When combined with other MAN rail routes under the LionXpress program, more than 22,000 vehicles have been delivered, with total estimated emissions savings of 10,400 tons.
Building experience with e-trucks
“VEGA has been a strong and innovative partner for our outbound logistics for many years. Together, we are consistently working to further reduce the carbon footprint of our products.
The combination of electric trucks with other zero-emission means of transport shows how climate-friendly supply chains can be intelligently implemented,” says Michael Kobriger, Executive Board Member for Production and Logistics at MAN Truck & Bus.
“With the two eTGX trucks, we are gaining valuable experience in demanding real-world operations, which involve different routes and unloading locations every day. The battery range and operational suitability of the vehicles have proven to be excellent. We are using these findings to electrify further transport routes together with our partners,” says Franz Blum, CEO of VEGA.
1,000 e-trucks this year
MAN recently began series production of its heavy-duty electric models, with the first deliveries starting this year. The company expects to have more than 1,000 electric trucks on order from customers before the end of 2025.
VEGA International also plans to scale up its low-emission logistics activities. The company plans to introduce an additional 30 to 40 eTGX trucks by the end of 2026, with plans for a distribution network that is carbon neutral by 2030.
Its plans include expanding a fleet of electric and hydrogen trucks, investing in charging and solar infrastructure across its European locations, and participating in renewable hydrogen production.
