Daimler Truck partners with Arquus to unveil next-generation tactical vehicle for European defense forces

Zetros by Arquus

(IN BRIEF) Daimler Truck and Arquus have unveiled the Zetros by Arquus, a new military truck that merges Daimler Truck’s 6×6 Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis with Arquus’ expertise in military adaptation and integration. Presented at the Forum Entreprises Défense 2025 in Paris, the collaboration offers European forces a robust, adaptable, and sovereign logistics and tactical solution with a payload capacity above six tons. The vehicle will be produced through the combined industrial capacities of both partners, with Daimler Truck operating facilities in Wörth am Rhein and Molsheim, and Arquus managing five centers of excellence across France. The partnership enhances European defense autonomy and enables rapid production to meet evolving operational demands.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN/ PARIS, 8-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Daimler Truck, in partnership with Arquus, has unveiled the Zetros by Arquus at the Forum Entreprises Défense in Paris, held on October 8–9, 2025. This new-generation military vehicle combines Daimler Truck’s proven Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6×6 chassis with Arquus’ advanced expertise in militarization, systems integration, and support, resulting in a powerful and reliable tactical solution built for the most demanding operational environments.

The Franco-German collaboration represents a shared ambition to deliver a sovereign, competitive, and durable mobility platform for French and European armed forces. The Zetros by Arquus brings together the best of both partners: Daimler Truck’s engineering excellence and Arquus’ decades-long experience in supporting military operations and integrating advanced defense technologies. The project also underscores a broader objective — to reinforce the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base (EDTIB) and enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy in defense manufacturing.

Already trusted by armed forces in Canada, Lithuania, and Ukraine, the Mercedes-Benz Zetros has proven its capability under extreme conditions. With Arquus’ added value — including the integration of communication and weapon systems, custom configurations, and localized in-service support — the vehicle now enters the French and European markets as a modular, versatile solution for logistics and troop transport. Designed for harsh terrains, the Zetros delivers a payload capacity exceeding six tons, ensuring high performance and crew safety whether armoured or unarmoured.

Daniel Zittel, Head of Defence Sales at Daimler Truck, highlighted the joint achievement: “This Zetros, developed as part of our partnership project, combines Daimler Truck’s proven vehicle platform with Arquus’ military expertise regarding equipment and protection. Together, we can provide French and European forces with a reliable vehicle that strengthens operational readiness and industrial sovereignty of our neighboring countries.”

Emmanuel Levacher, General Manager of Arquus, added: “We want French Forces to have confidence in a robust and proven military truck, with upper-end tactical performances and a high proximity to the units for In Service Support operations.”

Both companies maintain strong industrial roots in France. Arquus operates five centres of excellence in Limoges, Saint-Nazaire, Garchizy, Satory, and Lisses, employing over 2,000 people and supporting nearly 25,000 vehicles in service with the French Army. Daimler Truck assembles its defense vehicles in Wörth am Rhein and at Molsheim (Alsace), where more than 3,000 employees contribute to the company’s industrial activities in France. Since 2008, Daimler Truck has sold over 15,000 Zetros units worldwide.

Leveraging their complementary strengths, Daimler Truck and Arquus are equipped to rapidly scale production, with facilities capable of manufacturing several hundred vehicles per month. This scalability ensures flexibility in addressing both urgent deployment requirements and large-scale defense programs, providing European forces with a dependable, ready-to-deploy mobility solution.

Media Contacts:

Lukas Hettmannsperger
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks
lukas.hettmannsperger​@daimlertruck.com
+49 170 3871112

Ulrike Burkhart
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Trucks Product, Service & eTruck
ulrike.burkhart​@daimlertruck.com
+49 160 861 3757

SOURCE: Daimler Truck AG