Berlin (awp/afp) – The head of the German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has not ruled out entering the armaments sector, in an interview with the American newspaper Wall Street Journal published late Friday night.
“The world has become more unpredictable, and I think it is quite clear that Europe must strengthen its defense profile,” said Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz.
“If we are able to play a positive role in this area, we would be ready to do so,” he added.
These statements come in the context of Germany’s rearmament in the face of the growing threat from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The German defense industry is benefiting greatly from this trend, as seen in the recent rise of Rheinmetall.
On the other hand, German car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are facing a major crisis, caught between customs duties and tough Chinese competition.
In late March, the CEO of another German automotive giant, Volkswagen, Oliver Blume, had said to be “in contact” with armament companies, particularly active in missile defense, to convert 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’s interview, a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson emphasized that the group “has been supplying chassis to specialized companies for many years which equip and market them under their own responsibility and brand for military applications.”
“Our activities in the security and defense sector constitute a strategic development focus that we will continue to actively develop, in collaboration with our partners,” they added.
Mr. Källenius did not provide specific details in his interview with the Wall Street Journal about the types of products Mercedes-Benz could manufacture.
He predicted that these defense-related activities would represent only a “small part of Mercedes-Benz’s business” compared to the production of cars and vans, but they could be “a growing niche that could also contribute to the group’s commercial results.”
afp/rp
