The remarks come in the context of Germany’s rearmament in the face of the growing Russian threat since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The German defense industry is benefiting greatly from this trend, as evidenced by the recent rise of Rheinmetall. On the other hand, German car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are going through a major crisis, caught between tariffs and tough Chinese competition.
Ola Källenius.
“An axis of strategic development”
In late March, the CEO of another German automotive giant, Volkswagen, Oliver Blume, said to be “in contact” with arms companies, particularly active in missile defense, to reconvert one of its German factories into the production of military transport equipment. According to the “Financial Times,” discussions are taking place with the company Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which designed the Israeli Iron Dome.
Asked about Ola Källenius’ interview, a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson emphasized that the group “has been providing chassis to specialized companies for many years that equip and market them under their own responsibility and brand for military applications.” “Our activities in security and defense are a strategic development axis that we will continue to actively develop in collaboration with our partners,” she added.
