Daimler Truck strengthens its Own Retail Business in Europe: Expanding into the UK through the acquisition of eStar Truck & Van Ltd.

This is an important milestone in expanding the Own Retail network by more than 60 percent by 2030.

The transaction includes six locations across the Greater Manchester and Liverpool area: Knowsley Truck, Knowsley Van, Stoke-on-Trent, Deeside, Trafford Park and Skelmersdale.

Stina Fagerman, President of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Region Europe: “The truck business is very complex, consultation-intensive, and characterized by strong relationships between us and our customers. Through our group-owned dealerships and locations, we are in close contact with them and can continuously develop our products and services. We are therefore firmly convinced that our own retail locations will continue to be critical to the success of our business in the future.”

Fagerman continued: “In the United Kingdom, where we previously had no presence with own sales and service locations, our recent acquisition of six locations has put us in an excellent position almost instantly. Investments like those in the UK will help increase the service share and thus the resilience of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.”

This new market entry supports Daimler Truck’s ambition to expand its European Own Retail network and follows recent strategic moves including acquisitions in Passau (Germany), Trappes near Paris (France), and Stránčice near Prague (Czech Republic).

Following its entry into the UK, Daimler Truck has 45 company-owned retail locations in Europe. In addition to Germany and the UK, the company is active in six other markets (Portugal, France, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia) with a total of more than 3,000 employees.

The acquisition took effect on 1 May 2026, marking a major milestone in Daimler Truck’s European retail development. It represents the first step into the UK market for Own Retail – a country offering significant growth potential, especially due to its strong aftersales orientation.

Volker Hüntrup, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Own Retail, Europe: “Entering the UK market reinforces our commitment to being close to our customers where it matters most. Our new locations in the UK are situated in a strategically important region at the heart of the industrial and logistics hub of Northern England and Wales. With the acquisition of these six locations in the United Kingdom, we are significantly strengthening our ability to support customers with reliable, high-quality service. Investments like these are central to reinforcing our commitment to our customers and ensuring the long-term resilience of Mercedes Benz Trucks”.

The sites are strategically located in major logistics corridors and industrial zones, with excellent connectivity to highways (M6, M56, M58, M60, M62), Manchester Airport, Trafford Park – one of Europe’s largest industrial estates – and the Manchester Ship Canal.

The acquired network ensures continuity of operations, with all over 300 employees of eStar Truck & Van Ltd transitioning into the Daimler Truck organization. The team brings strong technical expertise, a high level of commitment, and longstanding customer relationships across retail customers, fleet operators, global truck accounts, municipalities, government customers, bus operators, and bodybuilders.

The workshops are already prepared to support the growing demand for electric Vans and Trucks, reinforcing Daimler Truck’s commitment to future-ready retail operations.

Through this acquisition, Daimler Truck Own Retail will provide customers in the UK with an unprecedented level of service, product offering and support, covering long‑haul and last‑mile applications, digital services and tailor‑made service contracts.

Sid Sadique OBE, chairman of eStar Truck and Van Ltd. “I am pleased to announce the sale of eStar Truck and Van Ltd. to Daimler Truck Own Retail, an important milestone that secures a strong and stable future for our 300 employees. Leading eStar alongside my co‑investor Ali Sharifi and the entire eStar team has been an immensely rewarding journey. I am confident that the existing Board of Directors and our dedicated eStar colleagues will continue to serve our customers with the highest standards of care and commitment, keeping their businesses moving every day. Supported by Daimler Truck Own Retail Europe and its team, eStar is well positioned to build on its growth and continue delivering an exceptional level of service to its customers.”

Mercedes-Benz Trucks, a business unit of Daimler Truck AG, is responsible for the global activities of the Mercedes-Benz and BharatBenz brands under the leadership of Achim Puchert. The Mercedes-Benz Trucks product range extends from heavy-duty long-haul trucks and 8-ton trucks for urban distribution to trucks for special applications. Mercedes-Benz Trucks has its own international sales and service network, which is constantly being developed. The BharatBenz brand's product range includes heavy and medium-duty trucks as well as buses and is specifically aimed at customers in the Indian market. BharatBenz also has a close-knit service network.

The Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment operates production facilities around the globe, some of which are accompanied by test and development sites. In addition, there are further production facilities operated with partners in various countries. The Global Parts Center in Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt, which was inaugurated in July 2025, will control the entire spare parts supply for Mercedes-Benz trucks in the future.