THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A new strategic alliance between the French military-vehicle manufacturer Arquus and the German Daimler Truck, with the goal of supplying the French military with new military trucks, has been unveiled.
According to a joint statement, the cooperation, which was announced on Thursday, will see both firms combine their skills in joint vehicle development, manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service, with a special emphasis on upgrading the French Army’s fleet of logistical vehicles. The collaboration occurs at a time when military spending in Europe is increasing significantly and there are rising worries about the independence of military technology and reliance on the United States. The companies highlight their domestic character in their press release, noting that Daimler operates a manufacturing facility in Germany, close to the French border, while Arqus manufactures entirely in France.
Arquus, which is currently a member of the John Cockerill group and produces 90% of the French Army’s wheeled vehicles, has decades of experience in system integration and protected mobility. With production facilities in France and Germany, Daimler Truck, one of the biggest commercial vehicle makers in the world, brings a lot of scale and industrial capacity.
