OSNABRÜCK (dpa-AFX) - Volkswagen is reportedly considering the production of military vehicles at its plant in Osnabrück. According to reports from the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ) and NDR, two army vehicles based on VW models Amarok and Crafter have been developed there under strict secrecy. Both vehicles were recently showcased at the Enforce Tac military trade fair in Nuremberg—without the VW logo—at the booth of a specialist in vehicle conversions.
VW confirmed the development when asked by the German Press Agency but remained tight-lipped about further plans. "The Volkswagen plant in Osnabrück has developed various vehicle concepts in recent months and presented them at Enforce Tac to explore possible market opportunities and perspectives," a spokesperson for the site stated. "Whether and to what extent concrete projects will result from this is currently open."
About 2,300 people work at the Osnabrück plant
VW is still examining various future options for the location, the spokesperson added. She pointed out that the Osnabrück plant is established within the VW production network as a project- and order-oriented site for small series and special projects. According to "NOZ," the two military vehicles, named MV.1 and MV.2, are only prototypes developed independently at the site. There have been no decisions from the group's top management regarding these projects.
Around 2,300 people work at the former Karmann plant. Production of the Porsche models built there will end this year, and manufacturing of the VW T-Roc Cabrio will cease by mid-2027. So far, there have been no follow-up orders. The defense group Rheinmetall has long been considered a potential interested party.
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