A highly specialised heavy-duty truck chassis built in the Czech Republic is heading to Australia in what is being described as a world-first configuration for the model.
Manufacturer Tatra Trucks has completed a bespoke eight-axle Phoenix 16x16 chassis, purpose-built for Victorian communications infrastructure company Quantum Comms. The vehicle has been engineered specifically to carry a Bronto Skylift S104HLA aerial platform with a working height exceeding 100 metres — placing it among the most capable mobile elevated work platforms in Australia.

A World-First 16x16 Configuration

The Tatra Phoenix 8GR64P 16x16 is the first chassis of its kind ever produced within the Phoenix range. Developed in close cooperation with Australian distributor Offroad Trucks Australia and lift specialist Bronto Skylift AUST/NZ, the project required extensive engineering and custom design work.

This unit is also right-hand drive, tailored for Australian operating conditions.

According to Offroad Trucks Australia, significant innovation and engineering hours went into creating a chassis capable of safely handling the structural and operational demands of the 100-metre class lift. A second 16x16 unit is already in production for Quantum Comms.

Built on Tatra’s Unique Backbone Design

The Phoenix series traces its origins back to 1996, when Tatra collaborated with DAF to develop a competitive heavy-duty model for developed markets. Production of the modern Phoenix range began in 2011.

In 2024, Tatra launched the second generation of the Phoenix platform, incorporating Euro 6 emissions compliance and further refinements while retaining its hallmark engineering feature: the central backbone tube chassis with independently suspended swinging half-axles.

This distinctive design offers:

• Exceptional torsional rigidity
• High ground clearance
• Superior off-road capability
• Reduced stress transfer to mounted equipment

For infrastructure operators working in remote, uneven or unsealed environments — common across regional Australia — these characteristics can be decisive.

Technical Specifications at a Glance
The scale of the vehicle is considerable:

• Configuration: 16x16 (eight axles)
• Steering: First three and last two axles steerable
• Chassis weight: 21.16 tonnes
• Gross vehicle weight (with superstructure): 69.25 tonnes
• Length: Nearly 15 metres
• Tyres: 445 mm width across all axles
• Axle load capacity: Up to 10 tonnes per axle

Power comes from a PACCAR MX-13 engine producing 390 kW and 2,500 Nm of torque, paired with a 12-speed TraXon transmission. The combination is designed to deliver both on-road drivability and the low-speed torque control required for heavy technical equipment deployment.

Supporting Australia’s Critical Infrastructure

Once fitted with the Bronto Skylift S104HLA, the truck will support high-reach operations such as telecommunications towers, energy infrastructure, large-scale maintenance works and specialised industrial access tasks.

Quantum Comms, headquartered in Victoria, operates nationally in telecommunications and critical infrastructure services. The arrival of the 16x16 platform is expected to significantly expand its high-access capability across Australia.

For Tatra, the project reinforces the manufacturer’s long-standing reputation for building highly customised heavy-duty vehicles suited to extreme environments. For Australia, it represents the introduction of a truly unique heavy platform engineered specifically for local operational demands.

And given its size and configuration, it is unlikely to go unnoticed once it lands on Australian roads.

Source: https://www.autorevue.cz/ | Offroad Trucks Australia - https://offroadtrucks.com.au/
Author: CzechTrade Sydney