The designation Di 6 stands for twelve six-axle diesel-electric locomotives with three-phase traction motors which were ordered by the NSB from MaK in 1992. Based on the DE 1024, requirements were a top speed of 160 km/h for passenger and freight service and suitability for the rough climate on the Nordlandsbanen between Trondheim and Bodø. Power came from a MaK V12 with 2,650 kW or 3,600 hp. Since the rail division of MaK was soon part of Siemens, the AC traction equipment now came from Siemens.

Due to many problems, the locomotives were sent back to Germany in 1999. Siemens made them fit for service in Germany and put them into their Dispolok fleet, while designating them ME 26. There they were also used in Luxembourg, but then sold to Vossloh in 2003. Vossloh renamed them to DE 2700 and installed push-pull controls for service with the Nord-Ostsee-Bahn, including the Hindenburg Dam to Sylt. After this, five were sold to Hector Rail and the others found several new operators. Some even returned to the Hindenburg Dam. By now, at least two have already been withdrawn.