Military vehicle manufacturer Arquus and German truck manufacturer Daimler Trucks have secured a contract to supply 7,000 trucks to the French Army. This was announced by Belgian engineering group John Cockerill, which has owned French company Arquus since 2024. According to several French media outlets, the contract is worth approximately 2 billion euros.

The order is for 7,000 PL6T ‘Zetros’ vehicles, transport vehicles with a capacity of six tons, over a period of more than ten years. The order is part of the modernization of the French army’s vehicle fleet. In addition to the delivery of the vehicles and their equipment, the contract also includes service support and maintenance.

Spread over ten years

The PL6T program, which stands for Porteurs Logistiques 6 Tons and is one of the most significant logistics renewal projects within French military mobility, will replace outdated 4- to 6-ton trucks with more modern, robust 6×6 vehicles. Production and delivery are planned over approximately ten years, with phased deliveries until around 2035 to ensure continuity and replacement of existing vehicles.

The military trucks are based on the Mercedes-Benz Zetros platform, an off-road-capable truck already in use in several countries, including Canada, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Daimler Truck supplies the civilian truck base and provides production expertise. The basic vehicles are manufactured at Daimler Truck production sites in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, and Molsheim (Alsace), France.

Arquus, which was formerly part of the Volvo Group, is responsible for integrating military modifications, maintenance, and logistical support. This will be carried out at Arquus’ French facilities in Limoges, Garchizy, and Saint-Nazaire.