A successful partnership ~ John Cockerill Defense and Daimler Truck selected to supply 7,000 Zetros by Arquus trucks to the French Army.
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Press Release, Versailles / Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 15 January 2026: Arquus, a John Cockerill company, and Daimler Truck have been awarded the PL6T contract by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. It covers the qualification and delivery of 7,000 new-generation military trucks for the French Land Forces.
The term ‘PL6T’ (Porteurs Logistiques 6 Tonnes) refers to the vehicle class designed for a payload of six tonnes. This major programme aims to renew the logistics and operational capabilities of the French forces, in a context of accelerated modernisation and rising requirements linked to high-intensity operations. The vehicles will be produced and delivered for more than 10 years.
Thierry Renaudin, CEO of John Cockerill Defense and President of Arquus: “We are proud to receive the renewed trust of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, especially as the PL6T programme is of major importance to the French Armed Forces. This industrial alliance with Daimler Truck enables us to fully meet the requirements of this programme. We are delighted to be providing the armed forces with a new vehicle that meets the highest global standards and is designed for the most demanding environments.”
Emmanuel Levacher, CEO of Arquus: “Together with Daimler Truck, we are providing the French Army with a robust, modern, and sustainable solution that meets the long-term operational needs of the forces. This large-scale renewal is a critical lever in supporting the transformation programme ‘Toward a Combat-Ready Army’.”
Daniel Zittel, Head of Defence Sales at Daimler Truck: “This programme is far more than a contract; it is a strong example of what European cooperation can achieve. Together with Arquus, we demonstrate that French and German industry can work hand in hand to deliver modern, reliable solutions for those who protect our security. This partnership is built on trust and shared commitment, setting a clear benchmark for future collaboration in the defence sector. This reflects Daimler Truck’s Defence Strategy: creating future-proof solutions through strong partnerships and uncompromising reliability, while accelerating our growth in the European defence industry.”
Ulrich Loebich, CEO of Daimler Truck France: “With this contract, Daimler Truck is expanding its already strong presence in France — currently around 5,500 direct and indirect employees — through an important industrial partnership in the defence sector. We are ready to support the fulfilment of this demanding contract alongside a strong French partner with our local organisation in France. Our sites in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, and Molsheim, France, ensure fast and reliable series production as well as short distances to Arquus’ sites and to the customer.”
Technology Package Meeting the Requirements of the French Army: The selected vehicle type, the new ‘Zetros by Arquus’, was showcased by the two companies for the first time in October 2025 at the Forum Entreprises Défense in Versailles Satory. It combines Daimler Truck’s proven vehicle platform, the Mercedes-Benz Zetros, with integration, militarisation and in-service support provided by Arquus. The ‘Zetros by Arquus’ will provide the French Army with enhanced mobility and safety, including reliable performance in all-terrain environments.
The ‘Zetros by Arquus’ is a versatile tactical truck designed for military operations. The Zetros chassis produced by Daimler Truck was developed for both on- and off-road use and is characterised by robustness, durability and ease of maintenance. All ordered vehicles are based on the same chassis with three-axle configuration, enabling rapid user familiarisation as well as simplified operation and maintenance. All vehicles feature the engine Mercedes-Benz OM 460 with Euro 3 certification, proven for full operational readiness also on low-quality fuels, and a fully automatic transmission with torque converter.
The vehicles are conventional trucks with the cab sitting behind the front axle, consistent with the vehicle concept used by the French Land Forces for decades. The ‘Zetros by Arquus’ offers several advantages regarding tactical and strategical mobility. The low vehicle height improves operational capability, e.g. in forests, tunnels and residential areas and facilitates the transport by air and rail. The vehicle concept also suits well for mounting a protected cab, because its high weight is positioned slightly behind the single front axle and therefore better distributed between front axle and rear axles. That allows maintaining a high payload capacity of six tonnes (PL6T).
A wide range of vehicle variants will be delivered, including troop carriers, transport vehicles, shelter vehicles, crane-equipped variants, and trucks with winches. All configurations feature extensive customisation options tailored to logistical and mission specific requirements.
Comprehensive lifecycle support and maintenance for the entire fleet will be carried out by Arquus, based on the company’s operational experience. Daimler Truck supports Arquus by delivering spare parts and providing know-how regarding the basis vehicle platform.
Industrial commitment in France: The basic vehicles are manufactured at Daimler Truck production sites in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, and Molsheim, France. Besides the existing Arquus network, Daimler Truck France also has a comprehensive network of more than 150 sales and service locations across France, ensuring long-term support for the delivered vehicles whenever needed. With locations around the globe, Daimler Truck can also reliably support outside of Europe.
Militarisation, systems integration, protected cabs, customer acceptance as well as support and maintenance will be carried out at Arquus’ French facilities in Limoges, Garchizy and Saint-Nazaire, directly contributing to employment and the preservation of national industrial know-how. At Arquus in France, 2,000 employees are committed every day.
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