Daimler Truck aims for €1bn defense sales using autonomous trucks

Daimler Truck announced under the new "Daimler Truck Defence" brand that it intends to generate €1 billion in defence‑related revenue by 2028, two years ahead of its original schedule. The company will invest a mid‑three‑digit‑million‑euro sum in development, production and expansion outside Europe to build driverless trucks for military logistics, a move the firm says could also reshape the civilian truck market.

CEO Karin Rådström told the Financial Times that the defence business is growing faster than Daimler Truck’s traditional commercial operations, emphasizing the need for high‑capacity, rapid delivery to ministries of defence. The strategy follows a sharp decline in the group’s adjusted operating profit in the first quarter of 2026, caused by US tariffs and a weak North American market, which also impacted employees in Germany. Daimler Truck believes its large‑scale industrial capacity gives it an advantage over traditional defence suppliers that focus on low‑volume production.