At Eurostory, Carmakers Showcase Military and Emergency Vehicles

The Eurostory arms exhibition is underway in France, and this year it has become a stage for carmakers as well as defense companies. European automakers, facing pressure from cheap Chinese electric vehicles and rising security threats in Europe, are increasingly leaning into defense-tech. The article cites reported ties between Rafael and Volkswagen over Iron Dome production, Renault’s move into drone manufacturing, and Mercedes-Benz’s openness to military-industry work.

Renault used the fair to unveil the 4troop, an early-stage vehicle based on its civilian Rafale and developed with France’s Thales. Renault describes it as a hybrid, all-wheel-drive platform meant to move support forces behind the battlefield, with significant data-processing capability and support for coordination, logistics, intelligence gathering, and decision support. The company also highlights its V2L power outlet as useful for soldiers and electronic warfare operations.

Volkswagen had no official stand, but private exhibitors showed the MV1, a military version of the Amarok pickup. The piece notes Volkswagen’s long, complicated history with military vehicles, from World War II to the present, and says the MV1 is reportedly built at the Osnabrück plant, which publications say was acquired by Rafael.

Mercedes-Benz is displaying military-oriented G-Class variants at Eurostory, not its consumer versions. The company says the vehicles are intended for international security scenarios and combine off-road capability, durability, and emergency payload capacity. Two diesel versions are shown, one with a closed body and one open, with a permitted weight of 3.5 tonnes plus 200 kilograms on the roof. Jeep parent Stellantis has no official presence, but its partner AADS is showing the J8, a Wrangler-based model with upgraded suspension and brakes, assembled in Gibraltar for tax and shipping advantages.