1932 Mercedes Lo 2000 

In 1932 Mercedes presented a new light-truck model at the Geneva motor show. Named the Lo 2000, its payload was rated at 2 tonnes. The truck was launched during a difficult time for Daimler-Benz, as the economic crisis had greatly affected the company. Due to the popularity of the new model, however, they were able to survive.

Yet another revolution in design from Mercedes, the Lo 2000 was the world's first diesel-powered light truck. It was fitted as standard with a new 3.8 litre four-cylinder diesel engine named the OM 59. It produced 55 horsepower at 2,000 rpm. A petrol engine (type M 60) with the same displacement and power rating as the diesel was still available for those buyers who were not interested in the new technology, although understandably the vast majority of Lo-series trucks sold were diesel powered, as there were so many advantages to the new fuel, hence why every truck today is diesel powered.

There were four other models available in the Lo-series range with varying wheelbases, payload capacities and platform lengths; the 2.5 tonne Lo 2500, the 2.75 tonne Lo 2750, the 3 tonne Lo 3000, and the 3.5 tonne Lo 3500. The Lo 3000 was powered by a 4.9 litre version of the OM 59 diesel 4-cylinder engine which produced 65hp. The Lo 3500 used a 7.4 litre six-cylinder diesel OM 67 engine which made a power output of 95hp. At the 1936 Berlin motor show another model was added to the range - the Lo 3750 3.75 tonne chassis for medium duty trucks and buses.

The "L" stood for lastwagen (meaning truck), and since the chassis was also used for buses, the "O" meaning omnibus was included in the name.

Mercedes Lo 3500 3.5 tonne flatbed
The Lo-series was very successful with small businesses and farmers, who had previously used horse-drawn carts for the transportation of goods. The models were ideal for such customers as they were reliable, durable, and easy to maintain should something go wrong due to the simple construction of the vehicle.

Production of the Lo 2000 lasted for eight years, with the final examples being delivered in 1940. During that period 12,253 were produced (incl. buses), with only around 1,100 of these being petrol powered.