It uses the traditional Tatra concept of a rigid backbone tube and swinging half-axles giving independent suspension.

The T163 is a continuation of the tradition started with the Tatra T 111, which played a crucial role in the effort to rebuild Central and Eastern Europe after the Second World War as well as in conquering the Russian Far East.

However, Tatra aimed to develop a conventional heavy dump truck for use in the hardest of conditions (i.e. mines).

[4] In 1998 the bonnet was shortened by 295 mm to comply with directives concerning the maximum length of truck and trailer.

In 1999 the truck was certified for use on the roads of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia and later the same year full production began.