Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is listed by AFSC Investigate and Who Profits for its direct supply of military vehicles to the Israeli Occupational Forces. Through its exclusive Israeli importer Colmobil, the company provides heavy-duty tractor heads used to transport Merkava tanks to Gaza, ambulance vehicles for the IOF Medical Corps, and armored vehicles for the Israel Police. Mercedes-Benz also operates a research and development center in Tel Aviv, embedding itself in the Israeli technology ecosystem.
Arming the Israeli Occupation
In December 2022, Mercedes won two Israeli Ministry of War tenders to supply 460 tractor heads for transporting Merkava Mark 4 tanks, armored personnel carriers, bulldozers, and other military cargo, at a cost of hundreds of millions of NIS. The trucks, Mercedes Arcos models in two versions for heavy and medium-weight transport, were built to the IOF's specifications and purchased through Colmobil.
In November 2023, weeks into Israel's genocide in Gaza, Mercedes expedited the delivery of 112 Arcos heavy-duty tractor heads and 30 Sprinter 4X4 ambulance vehicles. Colmobil airlifted the ambulances from the United States for immediate operational use. The Arcos trucks were intended for transporting Merkava Mark 4 tanks to Gaza and to the northern border.
The IOF's relationship with Mercedes as a tank transporter supplier dates back to at least 2008, when the military received a series of Actros tractor heads with 537 hp and 6x6 drive. In February 2018, Colmobil won an IOF tender to supply 90 Sprinter ambulance vehicles for 40 million NIS. In July 2018, the occupation Ministry of War contracted Colmobil to supply 200 Atego single-unit trucks at an estimated cost of 70 million NIS.
Vehicles for the Israel Police
Colmobil, the only company authorized by Mercedes to import and maintain its vehicles in Israel, provides the Israel Police with Mercedes vehicles and maintenance services, including armored Mercedes vehicles. In December 2020, Colmobil was contracted as a sole supplier to provide the Israel Police with continued maintenance services for five Mercedes Vario armored vehicles, Colmobil was contracted to supply a Mercedes Sprinter vehicle as a prototype to test its suitability for operational unit activity.
Research and development in the apartheid state
Mercedes-Benz operates a research and development center in Tel Aviv. The center, opened in 2017 by then-Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, focuses on autonomous driving, connectivity, and digital vehicle technologies.
Germany's role in arming the genocide
Mercedes-Benz's military supply chain operates within the broader context of Germany's role as the second-largest exporter of heavy conventional weapons to Israel, responsible for 47% of Israel's arms imports in 2023 according to SIPRI. Between 2003 and 2023, Germany approved 4,427 individual arms export licenses to Israel worth approximately 3.3 billion euros, with a 99.75% approval rate. In 2023 alone, the value of approved exports surged tenfold compared to 2022.
Sources:
- AFSC Investigate Mercedes-Benz Group AG
- Who Profits Mercedes Benz
- Who Profits Colmobil Corporation
- Israel Defense צה"ל מצטייד בראשי גורר ואמבולנסים של מרצדס
- The Jerusalem Post Delivery of Mercedes IDF tank carriers speeds up
- Forensic Architecture Deutsche Rüstungsexporte nach Israel 2003–2023
- Mercedes-Benz Group Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Tel Aviv Ltd.
- Reuters Daimler launches Tel Aviv hub for auto technologies