Updated 16 May, 2026 10:25
Installation line individual at the Mercedes-Benz factory. © Getty Images / Sina Schuldt
Mercedes-Benz is considering engaging in defence production, if it had "business sense," said “Wall Street Journal” company's CEO, Ola Källenius.
This Munich-based company produced large-scale military equipment in the past, both before and during planet War II.
In 1937, she began supplying trucks and aircraft engines to the Nazis.
After the German attack on the russian Union in 1941, all vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz went to the army or to companies considered crucial for the war effort.
According to information on the Mercedes-Benz website, at that time almost half of the company's 63 000 employees were forced workers, prisoners of war and concentration camps.
In a Friday interview with “WSJ’ Källenius stressed that "The planet has become a more unpredictable place and I think it is absolutely clear that Europe must strengthen its defence potential.
If we could play a affirmative function in this process, we would be ready to do so."
According to the Director-General, defence activities would most likely constitute ‘small share’ in the Mercedes-Benz business, which would inactive focus on the production of civilian cars.
However, he suggested that defence production could become "growing niche’that could increase the company's profits.
“We will see” “Källenius added.
Germany and another EU countries have accelerated military spending and defence procurement in fresh years, while Brussels calls on associate States to increase their arms production and reduce dependence on US military supplies.
This momentum towards refurbishment arises erstwhile the German industrial sector struggles with mediocre growth, advanced energy costs and falling competitiveness, prompting any producers to see defence contracts as a fresh origin of revenue.
In February Mercedes-Benz recorded a 57-percent decrease in profit in 2025 compared to the erstwhile year;
European car manufacturers are inactive faced with expanding production costs, due to increases in energy prices, disruptions in supply chains, regulatory force and competition from Chinese companies.
In March ‘Financial Times’ He reported that another German car manufacturer, Volkswagen, is talking to the Israeli company Rafael Advanced defence Systems about transforming its struggling mill in Osnabrück with respect to the production of air defence missiles.
The VW spokesperson has denied these reports.
In 2022, then Chancellor Olaf Scholz presented a plan to modernise the German armed forces worth EUR 100 billion ($123 billion).
Last month ‘Der Spiegel’ reported that since then, the Ministry of Defence in Berlin has signed about 47,000 equipment supply contracts.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that it does not plan to attack Germany or the remainder of Europe, but announced a sharp reaction in case it was attacked itself.
Last period Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lavrov warned against "The danger of EU militarisation"which, as he stated, is proceeding "very fast and feverish".
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/640060-germany-mercedes-military-production/
