Daimler Truck and Roshel Form Transatlantic Defence Industrial Powerhouse

Press Release + Noah Note

PARIS, FRANCE – EUROSATORY 2026 – Daimler Truck AG and Roshel Inc. today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a strategic partnership framework to jointly develop, produce, market, and support a family of protected and armoured military vehicles for NATO, allied, and partner-nation customers.

Signed during Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, the agreement brings together one of Germany’s most established industrial and defence mobility manufacturers with Canada’s fastest-growing armoured vehicle producer. The announcement comes as Canada and Europe move from defence cooperation to defence production, creating new opportunities for industry to strengthen supply chains, expand capacity, and deliver capability to Ukraine, NATO and allied partners.

“This partnership with Daimler Truck is a defining moment for Roshel, for Canada’s defence industry, and for the allies we serve,” said Roman Shimonov, Chief Executive Officer of Roshel Inc. “In just a few years, Roshel has delivered more than 2,500 armoured vehicles to Ukraine, showing that speed, quality, and innovation matter in real-world conflict. By bringing together Roshel’s proven protection systems, integrated manufacturing, and ability to deliver at scale with Daimler Truck’s world-class platforms, engineering experience, and global reach, we are creating a stronger and more complete offering for allied customers. It is built to move quickly, built to scale, and built to protect the people who protect us.”

Through the MOU, Daimler Truck and Roshel intend to cooperate on protected and armoured vehicle programs across NATO, European, North American, and allied markets. The framework includes joint development, industrialization, localization, lifecycle support, and sustainment.

For Roshel and Daimler Truck, the strategic value of the partnership is clear. The Canadian company Roshel is an agile and battle-tested defence manufacturer with a track record of rapid delivery to Ukraine. Daimler Truck serves with proven industrial platforms, deep engineering expertise, and a global support network. Together, the companies can offer allied governments a stronger, faster, and more integrated approach to protected mobility.

Daniel Zittel, Chief Sales Officer, Daimler Truck Defence: “By working with Roshel, we are combining complementary capabilities to provide defence and security customers with protected mobility solutions. Daimler Truck contributes proven vehicle platforms and industrial scale, while Roshel brings expertise in armoured vehicles, operational track record, and ability to deliver quickly. Together, we are offering allied governments a compelling and integrated solution.”

The partnership is expected to support allied priorities including Ukraine assistance, NATO interoperability, defence supply chain resilience, and the development of domestic industrial capacity in partner markets. Through flexible localization models, including in-country assembly and supply chain integration, Daimler Truck and Roshel will be positioned to help allied governments meet national defence requirements while strengthening the industrial base behind them. At a time when Canada, Germany, and their allies are focused on moving faster from commitment to capability, the agreement represents a practical step toward building the production capacity, resilience, and trusted partnerships needed for today’s security environment.

“Roshel represents the very best of what Ontario’s defence sector has to offer – world-class manufacturing capabilities, homegrown innovation, and the ability to deliver at scale when it matters most,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We were thrilled to join them at Eurosatory 2026 as they signed a strategic agreement with Daimler Truck, the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer. We look forward to seeing this landmark partnership bolster supply chain resilience and provide Canada and our European allies with the defence solutions they need.”

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BACKGROUND

The Daimler Truck–Roshel partnership is intended to support a broad family of protected and armoured military vehicles for NATO, allied, and partner-nation customers. The companies expect to focus on platforms and configurations that respond to growing demand for protected mobility, logistics support, medical evacuation, counter-drone systems, and command-and-control capabilities.

The partnership will draw on Daimler Truck’s proven vehicle platforms, including the Zetros tactical truck, Unimog, Arocs/Arocs 8×8 tactical truck, and FGA platform family. These platforms provide a foundation for a range of military vehicle configurations, from light tactical mobility to heavy logistics and strategic support.

Identified areas of cooperation include:

• FGA Platform Family: A tactical platform family suitable for MRAPs, APCs, counter-drone systems, and mobile command-and-control configurations.

• Zetros Tactical Truck: A heavy-duty tactical platform suited to armoured cargo, logistics, recovery, and support variants, including potential localized configurations for North American markets.

• Unimog: A highly capable off-road platform that can support specialized roles, including engineering support, medical evacuation, counter-drone applications, and light tactical mobility.

• Arocs/Arocs 8×8 Tactical Truck: A heavy-lift and strategic mobility platform suited to demanding operational environments, including armoured logistics and support under fire.

Roshel’s role in the partnership will be anchored in its armoured vehicle design, production, and integration capabilities. The company’s vertically integrated model allows it to support key stages of the armoured vehicle value chain in-house, including:

• ballistic steel processing and armoured plate fabrication;

• transparent armour production, including ballistic glass and polycarbonate systems;

• ballistic capsule engineering and armoured protection component production;

• drivetrain integration and vehicle up-armouring;

• mission system integration, including communications, ISR, counter-drone systems, and medical fit-outs;

• medical evacuation vehicle configurations;

• MRAP, APC, recovery, and engineering platform variants; and

• integrated logistics, training, spare parts, and lifecycle support.

Roshel has delivered more than 2,500 armoured vehicles to Ukraine, giving the company direct experience producing and supporting vehicles used in active conflict environments. This operational feedback has informed Roshel’s approach to protection, production speed, vehicle configuration, and sustainment.

The partnership is also expected to support flexible localization models for allied governments, including Completely Knocked Down and Semi-Knocked Down assembly options, in-country production, local content strategies, and supply chain integration. These models are intended to help partner nations meet national defence requirements while strengthening domestic industrial capacity and reducing lifecycle costs through local support and sustainment.

Together, Daimler Truck and Roshel intend to offer allied governments a more integrated protected mobility solution, combining proven vehicle platforms, armoured protection, mission-specific configurations, rapid production, and long-term lifecycle support.

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ABOUT ROSHEL INC.

Roshel Inc. is a Canadian defense technology company headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, specializing in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of smart armored vehicles. With over 2,500 vehicles deployed to Ukraine and a growing global footprint, Roshel is recognized as one of North America’s leading producers of protected mobility solutions. Roshel’s vertically integrated manufacturing model provides in-house ballistic steel processing, transparent armor production, armored capsule engineering, drivetrain integration, and complete mission system upfitting – enabling industry-leading delivery timelines and comprehensive lifecycle support across MRAP, APC, medical evacuation, recovery, and counter-drone vehicle configurations.

ABOUT DAIMLER TRUCK AG

Daimler Truck is one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, operating 35 main locations and employing roughly 100,000 people worldwide. With 130 years of heritage – dating back to the invention of the first trucks and buses – Daimler Truck is committed to a clear purpose: For all who keep the world moving. Together with its global partners, the company is shaping the future of transportation with the ambition to be the industry’s leading truck and bus manufacturer. Truck is committed to supporting the mobility, protection and operational readiness of armed forces. In doing so, we take responsibility for mission readiness at scale leveraging our extensive production and service network. We consider ourselves as a frontrunner developing relevant defence applications on our reliable vehicle platforms.

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Noah Note: Not what I was expecting in this space. I had heard of Daimler looking to Canada, and Zetros being involved, but not in this format. Either way, a great thing for Roshel to establish a proper European supplier for chassis. What they do with it I don't know, but still intersting to see.

I have been begging for something here. Begging. I was hoping Zetros localized production, even knockdown, would be something leveraged as part of CPSP. This, as I can tell, has no relation. Companies can do stuff by themsleves. However, I am bloody overjoyed to see.

I'll have to reach out to Roshel and ask their ideas for this sometime. This has a lot of potential with Canada being a Zetros nation, and also opens some really interesting doors for Roshel. Maybe I'll write fully on it sometime… for now, Roshel claims another win, a good one in my books in building their portfolio.