Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 5, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleVolkswagen brought military-grade vehicle prototypes based on Amarok and Crafter models to the Enforce Tac defence trade fair, exploring new uses for its Osnabrück plant after T‑Roc Cabriolet production ends in 2027; talks with Rheinmetall stalled late 2025.
BERLIN, March 5 (Reuters) - Volkswagen brought vehicle prototypes developed at its factory in Osnabrueck to a defence trade fair last month to gauge the market's interest, said a company spokesperson, as the German carmaker looks at ways to repurpose the German site.
Volkswagen wants to sell or reconfigure the site that employs around 2,300 people after the end of T-Roc Cabriolet production in 2027 as part of the carmaker's wider revamp.
Talks with Rheinmetall about a sale, including a visit by CEO Armin Papperger, stalled late last year.
"In recent months, the Volkswagen plant in Osnabrueck has developed various vehicle concepts and presented them at Enforce Tac to explore potential market opportunities and prospects," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Thursday.
The Enforce Tac security and defence trade fair brought together more than 1,400 exhibitors and around 26,000 trade visitors in the southern city of Nuremberg late last month.
"Whether and to what extent concrete projects will result from this remains to be seen," the spokesperson said.
German industry publication Defence Network, which first reported the news, published photos of the olive-green MV.1, based on the Amarok pick-up truck, and MV.2 military-grade Crafter van displayed at the trade fair.
The Volkswagen emblem is not present, with only the name D.E.S. Defence written on the sides in the photograph.
According to the publication, these vehicles are adapted specifically for military use and have little in common with their civilian versions except their outward appearance.
(Reporting by Christina Amann, Writing by Miranda Murray; Editing by Mark Porter)
Volkswagen is exploring military vehicle manufacturing to repurpose the Osnabrueck factory after T-Roc Cabriolet production ends in 2027.
Volkswagen showcased the MV.1, based on the Amarok pickup, and the MV.2, a military-grade Crafter van, both adapted for military use.
Talks with Rheinmetall, which included a visit by CEO Armin Papperger, stalled late last year.
Around 2,300 people are employed at Volkswagen's Osnabrueck site.
No, only the name D.E.S. Defence was present on the vehicles, not the Volkswagen emblem.
Explore more articles in the Finance category
