Daimler Truck has announced a major expansion of its global defence business with the launch of Daimler Truck Defence, a unified brand that will consolidate the company’s military mobility operations worldwide. Backed by investments amounting to several hundred million euros over the coming years, the initiative forms a key pillar of the company’s long-term growth strategy and is expected to generate defence-related revenue of €1 billion by 2028.
The newly established brand will serve as the single face of Daimler Truck’s defence activities across global markets, bringing together engineering, manufacturing, sales and after-sales support under one organization. While Mercedes-Benz military trucks will continue to play a central role, the portfolio will gradually expand to include defence solutions based on other Daimler Truck brands operating in different regions.
The company plans to strengthen its production capabilities, broaden its engineering expertise and enhance customer support infrastructure to meet increasing global demand for military logistics and mobility solutions. Approximately 1,000 employees are currently engaged in Daimler Truck’s defence operations, with further recruitment expected as production expands, particularly at the Wörth am Rhein manufacturing facility in Germany.
Karin Rådström, Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Truck, said the defence segment has become a strategic priority for the company. “Governments across the world are investing in modern military logistics and mobility capabilities. Our strategy is to strengthen our production network, develop advanced defence solutions and expand our service infrastructure while leveraging Daimler Truck’s global industrial footprint and engineering expertise. This approach positions us to support customers with reliable and scalable mobility solutions,” she said.
Dennis Kinzelmann, Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Truck Defence, said the company is focused on becoming a leading supplier of military transport solutions by combining established commercial vehicle platforms with specialized defence technologies.”Our customers require dependable vehicles that can operate under the most demanding conditions. By bringing together our global brands, manufacturing capabilities and strategic partnerships, we can deliver mission-ready platforms efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of quality and operational reliability,” he said.
Daimler Truck’s strategy includes expanding beyond customized defence projects into larger fleet procurement and long-term vehicle sustainment programmes. The company intends to capitalize on its commercial vehicle production expertise to manufacture military variants at higher volumes while maintaining operational flexibility.
Manufacturing operations in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, and Molsheim, France, will continue to serve as the primary production centres for European defence programmes. In addition, Daimler Truck will offer localized assembly of militarized vehicles in customer countries to support domestic industrial participation.
The company is also strengthening its global support network, which already includes around 5,000 service locations across more than 160 countries. Continued investment in spare parts availability and maintenance services is expected to improve operational readiness for military fleets deployed worldwide.
Recent defence contracts highlight the company’s expanding international presence. These include logistics vehicle programmes for the German Armed Forces, a large supply agreement with the Canadian Armed Forces in partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems, and a framework agreement with the French Armed Forces alongside Arquus for thousands of Zetros-based military trucks.
At Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, Daimler Truck is presenting a range of military-ready Unimog, Zetros and Arocs vehicles equipped with specialized mission systems developed in collaboration with leading defence partners. The exhibition underscores the company’s commitment to delivering advanced mobility platforms designed to meet the evolving operational requirements of armed forces worldwide.
