• BwFuhrparkService GmbH, the German Bundeswehr's mobility service provider, has awarded Daimler Truck the contract to supply a mid-three-figure number of logistics vehicles
• Mercedes-Benz Arocs with all-wheel drive and special military equipment ordered
• All vehicles will be delivered within one year, by the end of May 2026

Leinfelden-Echterdingen - Daimler Truck has won a major contract from BwFuhrparkService, the Bundeswehr's mobility service provider. The order comprises the delivery of a mid-three-digit number of Mercedes-Benz Arocs logistics vehicles. In accordance with the current procurement strategy of the German federal government, the trucks are to contribute to improving military transport capacities for national and alliance defence. The vehicles are to be delivered by the end of May 2026.

Franziska Cusumano, CEO Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks and responsible for Daimler Truck's defence business: "This order is a strong sign of BwFuhrparkService's confidence in our technology and reliability in a challenging security policy environment. Following recent orders from other NATO countries, such as Lithuania and Canada, we are delighted that we have now also been awarded the contract by BwFuhrparkService in this tender. As usual, we are relying on our Franco-German production network to implement this major order."

Daniel Zittel, Head of Defence Sales, Daimler Truck: "Within a year, we will produce a mid-three-digit number of Mercedes-Benz Arocs for BwFuhrparkService and equip them for the needs of the Bundeswehr together with our partner, Sonntag Fahrzeugbau. We will then provide support with our services for many years to come to ensure that the vehicles are always ready for the tasks of the troops. Because for the soldiers, a truck is more than just a means of transportation - it must always work without compromise, even in off-road terrain, under time pressure and in sometimes unpredictable conditions. With our Mercedes-Benz Arocs, we are supplying a robust and field-tested logistics vehicle that impresses with its off-road capability, equipment and operability - in short, that our armed forces can count on."

The Mercedes-Benz Arocs: vehicle configurations for demanding operations

The Mercedes-Benz Arocs is designed for operations with a high off-road component, such as on construction sites or for logistical tasks in the defence sector. With high ground clearance and a robust chassis, it provides a heavy-duty basis for various applications.

The vehicles ordered by BwFuhrparkService are the Arocs 6x6, a three-axle logistics truck with all-wheel drive and a payload of up to ten tons. The steel-sprung truck has a water clearance of up to 0.9 meters for operations in swampy areas or for driving through rivers. The tried-and-tested OM 470 engine delivers 335 kW (455 hp) and a torque of up to 2200 Nm. All vehicles also feature the PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission and meet the current EU Euro VI emissions standard.

The commissioned Mercedes-Benz Arocs 6x6 are standard commercial trucks that have a limited amount of special military equipment (so-called hümS vehicles). This includes, for example, the camouflage livery. HümS vehicles are an addition to the military vehicle fleet, as the near-standard design in combination with specific equipment elements opens up a wide range of possible uses. Civilian remarketing after initial use is therefore also possible.

With the 15-foot interchangeable platform body from Sonntag Fahrzeugbau GmbH, the vehicles can be used to transport material in difficult terrain. The body remains stable even when tackling extreme terrain, which can cause severe twisting in the vehicle frame. This allows the load to be transported gently to its destination. With this transport solution, the swap-body platform can be loaded or unloaded in just a few minutes or quickly transferred to various carrier vehicles such as trucks, trains or ships in combined transport. Thanks to the compact dimensions of 15 feet, the manoeuvrability and off-road capability of the Arocs as a basic vehicle are retained as far as possible.

Production in the Franco-German production network

The Arocs 6x6s ordered will be manufactured in the Franco-German production network. The axles and transmissions are supplied by the Mercedes-Benz plant in Gaggenau. The heart of the drive unit, the OM 470 engine, comes from the Mannheim engine plant and is installed in the vehicle frame at Mercedes-Benz Trucks' largest truck plant. The “marriage”, the connection between the driver's cab and the chassis, is also carried out as usual at the Wörth plant.

In Molsheim, France, less than 100 kilometers away from Wörth am Rhein, the manufacturer then equips the vehicles with military-specific equipment. In addition, a base coat is applied there that is resistant to chemicals and reduces visibility in night vision devices and thermal imaging cameras.

Thanks to the division of labor in assembly at two locations, the core competencies of the two plants - efficient series production in large quantities and the implementation of individual customer requests in the manufacturing process - can be optimally combined. This has a positive effect on production capacity and delivery speed.

The scope of work carried out by Sonntag Fahrzeugbau GmbH in Sauerland includes the construction of the container swap frame with swap body, the military-specific equipment of the driver's cab and the final paint finish in camouflage.

About Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks

Within Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is the business unit for special vehicles and is responsible for the defence business as well as for the firefighting and disaster relief segments, among others. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks offers a wide range of complete vehicles for military logistics applications, from the tried-and-tested Actros and Arocs to the high-terrain Unimog and the Zetros. Heavy-duty tractor units and chassis for protected superstructures are also part of the portfolio. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks produces in Wörth am Rhein and Molsheim with high capacities for large orders and also realizes special customer requirements with tailor-made solutions.