Relief convoy departs for Afghanistan

On the initiative of DaimlerChrysler AG and under the auspices of the European Union, a convoy of ten Mercedes-Benz Actros combinations carrying more than 200 tonnes of goods for reconstruction projects sets out for Afghanistan from Stuttgart. On the one hand, the purpose is to bring goods urgently needed for reconstruction efforts to Afghanistan; but the idea is also to show cost-efficient possibilities for transporting goods on the so-called TRACECA route (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) to Central Asia and at the same time subject the state-of-the-art truck technology to severe testing under demanding real-life conditions. After three-and-a-half weeks and 6000 km through the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia the convoy reaches its destination on 30 September.