VW Osnabrück tests military vehicles: Amarok & Crafter

Saving the armor? Volkswagen could build military vehicles in Osnabrück

2026-03-06 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

VW is probably thinking of rolling military vehicles off the production line at its Osnabrück plant, as was announced today. Is Rheinmetall coming into play?

After the first "Kübel" and the Schwimmwagen, Volkswagen has made itself popular with the Bundeswehr with this Kübel here, as well as with the VW Bus. Now there are initial reports that the armored vehicle track could also be used.(Source: Volkswagen) — After the first "Kübel" and the Schwimmwagen, Volkswagen has made itself popular with the Bundeswehr with this Kübel here, as well as with the VW Bus. Now there are initial reports that the armored vehicle track could also be used.
(Source: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen is reportedly testing the construction of military vehicles at its plant in Osnabrück. Two army vehicles based on the VW Amarok and Crafter models have already been developed there under strict secrecy. This was reported by the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (NOZ) and the NDR. According to the NOZ, the two military vehicles are called MV.1 (Amorac) and MV.2 (Crafter). Both were also recently presented at the Enforce Tac military trade fair in Nuremberg and are also intended to be useful for the police and security forces. There are few pictures, but they show the VW logo on the radiator, which, according to the media, was not shown at the trade fair. It was on the stand of a vehicle conversion specialist. VW confirmed the development when asked by dpa, but withheld further information on plans.

Some details about the two VW military vehicles

The MV.1 therefore has a 3-liter TDI V6 and a ten-speed automatic transmission as well as all-wheel drive, of course. It serves as a robust basic system with a modular mission platform (MMP). Other highlights include stealth mode, blackout switch and kill switch to deactivate the entire electrical system if required. Tires with run-flat properties, underbody protection and cable winches at the front and rear (3.6 tons of pulling force each) round off this mobile armament platform, as we learn. The MV.2, based on the Crafter, is powered by a 2.0 TDI with six-speed automatic transmission. It also has all-wheel drive, but can swallow aviation fuel. The highlights are the same as in the MV.1.

adobestock-163119218-2480x1394v1 (Source: Kernkonzept GmbH)

Two Porsche models to be discontinued this year

It was only said that various vehicle concepts have been developed in Osnabrück in recent months and that these were presented at Enforce Tac in order to sound out possible market opportunities and prospects. There are no concrete projects as yet. However, if such projects were to come about, this could help to secure the future of the site. Around 2,300 people currently work at the former Karmann plant. And production of the two Porsche models Boxster and Cayman will come to an end this year, followed by the end of T-Roc production around mid-2027. Follow-up orders have so far been sought in vain, but the name Rheinmetall is being circulated as a possible interested party. The VW plant in Osnabrück has been fighting for its future for months.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.