>>> Significant strategic step: Rheinmetall acquires a majority stake of 72.5% in Automecanica SRL, Mediaș/Romania >>> Annual sales potential of approximately 300 million euros >>>Extending the portfolio to include truck bodies and trailers >>> The new company “Rheinmetall Automecanica” becomes part of the group’s global production network
Düsseldorf, February 1, 2024 – # RBJ – (press release – Rheinmetall) The technology group Rheinmetall from Düsseldorf continues to expand its leading position in the production of military vehicles and becomes the main shareholder of the Romanian vehicle manufacturer Automecanica Mediaș. With this acquisition, Rheinmetall strengthens its footprint in Central Europe and benefits from significant sales growth and promising new customer countries in the region. With locations in NATO’s Eastern Alliance area, Rheinmetall is also currently present in Hungary and Lithuania. In addition, Rheinmetall recently won a major air defense order from Romania in December 2023 with a volume of €328 million.
The company, in which the Düsseldorf group will in the future hold 72.5% of the shares through Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, will operate in Romania under the name Rheinmetall Automecanica SRL. The rest of the shares in the company remain with private owners. The execution of the corresponding contractual agreement is still subject to official approval.
Rheinmetall attributes to the new acquisition an annual sales potential of around 300 million euros in the medium term and expects an order intake in the three-digit million euro range as early as the 2024 financial year.
Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall CEO: “The acquisition of Automecanica Mediaș in the Rheinmetall group is a significant step for our strategic orientation in Central Europe and will contribute to strengthening the defense capacity of the EU and NATO on the eastern flank. We look forward to supporting the Romanian customer in future programs – whether in the vehicle sector or with other technologies from our company. The integration of local partners and the consolidation of the internal economy in Romania are our central concerns. We want to best respond to the expectations that the politicians and the military have from us.”
Automecanica Mediaș is a traditional manufacturer of special vehicles, bodies and trailers for both the civil and military sectors. Rheinmetall’s collaboration with Automecanica was established in 2022, when both partners agreed to operate a maintenance center for military vehicles in Satu Mare, Romania.
The location in Mediaș, Romania, will play a central role in maintaining the operational readiness of Western combat systems deployed in Ukraine and in their logistical support. Rheinmetall’s on-site presence guarantees the armed forces on NATO’s eastern flank shorter response times and greater security in the supply chain.
By acquiring the company, Rheinmetall further expands its global production network in vehicle construction, which already has locations in Canada, the USA, Australia, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands and Germany. This also significantly increases production and repair capabilities.
At the same time, Rheinmetall is expanding its product portfolio in the construction of military vehicles with this step. Truck bodies and trailers and other special vehicles developed and produced by Automecanica complete the range of logistics trucks with which Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) is successful on global markets.
Rheinmetall Automecanica will thus become part of Rheinmetall’s global production network. In addition to the repair of combat vehicles, chassis for anti-aircraft guns for the Romanian armed forces will also be serviced here in the future.
Until now, Automecanica Mediaș has been an efficient partner of the Romanian armed forces. In the new constellation, Rheinmetall and Automecanica want to be a leading manufacturer and service provider for the Romanian armed forces and the military forces of neighboring countries and significantly expand the previous range of services.
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Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall AG is a technology group that employs approximately 34,000 people at 139 locations worldwide. The company has achieved sales of 6.4 billion euros in 2022. Rheinmetall is a leading international systems house for the defense industry and, at the same time, a driver of pioneering technological and industrial innovations in civilian markets. The focus on sustainability is an integral part of Rheinmetall’s strategy.
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Automecanica Mediaș is a Romanian company that produces bodies for trucks and trailers for the civil and military sectors. The company also manufactures tankers for the transport of fuel, liquid food and general cargo. The Automecanica portfolio also includes cleaning and construction vehicles.
The company was founded in 1941 under the name Atelierele de State per Aeronautica Mediaș and in 1962 it changed its field of activity to the production of vehicle bodies and lifting platforms.
