Daimler Truck prepares Mercedes-Benz engine assembly in Poland

Daimler Truck Defence is expanding its activities beyond the supply of complete military vehicles. At the MSPO international defence industry exhibition, held in Kielce, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), Poland’s leading group specialising in defence technologies.

This cooperation provides for the export of Mercedes-Benz engine components to Poland, where their assembly will gradually be carried out by local companies. The engines will then be integrated into military vehicles developed by the various companies within the PGZ group for the Polish armed forces.

Production planned in Kalisz from 2027

PGZ plans to install an assembly line in Kalisz, which is expected to become operational in 2027. In the long term, the site could produce a four-digit volume of Daimler Truck diesel engines each year.

The ramp-up will be gradual. Initially, Poland will receive largely pre-assembled engines, on which only certain components will need to be installed locally. The system will then evolve towards the delivery of CKD – “Completely Knocked Down” – kits comprising more than 700 parts to be assembled on site.

This organisation will make it possible to gradually increase the share of work carried out in Poland as well as the local added value, while maintaining the industrial and quality standards defined by Daimler Truck.

Engines from 7 to 15 litres

The cooperation will initially focus on Mercedes-Benz engine families intended for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Their displacement will range from 7 to 15 litres, with power outputs between 240 kW, or 326 hp, and 460 kW, or 625 hp.

These powertrains are already used by Daimler Truck on vehicles designed for the most demanding applications, including the Mercedes-Benz Unimog and Zetros. The manufacturer highlights their robustness, reliability and extended maintenance intervals.

The same engine families are also used in the civilian world for agricultural, forestry and mining applications, as well as in construction equipment.

A competence centre for after-sales

The agreement is not limited to engine assembly. Daimler Truck Defence and PGZ want to establish a competence centre in Poland dedicated to their maintenance, repair, refurbishment and modernisation.

Daimler Truck will provide assistance with the design of the production line, team training, quality control, testing procedures and painting operations. The partnership is therefore intended to cover the entire life cycle of the engines, from their assembly through to technical support in the field.

With this cooperation, Daimler Truck intends to put the industrial capabilities and economies of scale of its civilian production at the service of the defence market. For Poland, the project contributes to strengthening its industrial autonomy and modernising its armed forces.