Company Announcements

ARX Robotics and DEUTZ strive for strategic partnership in digitalized drives and unmanned defense systems

• DEUTZ will strengthen its position as a partner in the growing ecosystem for unmanned defense systems (unmanned ground vehicles, UGVs)
• ARX Robotics will gain access to leading drive systems, mobile energy infrastructure, and a powerful production network
• NATO armed forces will benefit from faster scaling up and improved reliability and flexibility in the field

Cologne/Oberding – October 16, 2025: DEUTZ, a system provider for innovative and sustainable mobility and energy solutions, and ARX Robotics, a leading European defense tech company that is developing a new generation of unmanned, software-defined ground defense systems, will cooperate closely in the future. As part of the expansion of its defense business, DEUTZ intends to participate as lead investor in the strategic round of funding for ARX Robotics. The funding round, which will also involve other investors, is expected to be completed in the upcoming weeks. This step forms part of a broader strategic partnership between the two companies.

“Unmanned and semi-autonomous defense systems are set to play an increasingly critical and central role for armed forces of the future. That is why we are combining ARX Robotics’ leading software and robotics expertise with our strengths in drive systems, decentralized energy supply, and industrial production,” states DEUTZ CEO Dr. Sebastian Schulte. “These types of partnerships 'made in Germany’ are what we need to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities for the long term.”

The aim of the strategic partnership is to deploy DEUTZ’s market-leading drive systems in unmanned ground vehicles from ARX Robotics. These will initially be battery-powered drive systems, to be followed by smaller internal combustion engines and hybrid drives in the future. In addition, the two companies will develop an interface to link ARX’s AI-driven software platform Mithra OS to DEUTZ drive systems.

DEUTZ will also provide energy infrastructure in the field through its business units Energy and NewTech. This will include gensets, storage solutions, and swappable batteries. Furthermore, ARX Robotics will gain access to DEUTZ’s global production and service network. This will allow rapid fulfillment of orders regardless of their size, with the comprehensive international service network providing a further competitive edge.

Marc Wietfeld, co-founder and CEO of ARX Robotics, describes this partnership as a major step in securing Europe’s technological sovereignty and Germany’s industrial base: “Working with DEUTZ, we are combining the intelligence of our Mithra OS platform and vehicle systems with high-quality drive systems, mobile energy, and industrial manufacturing. This will enable us to deliver unmanned systems to troops more quickly, increase availability and reliability during deployment, and to create the basis for scaling up in Europe. Our remit remains unchanged: protect soldiers, help to streamline logistics, and build up extensive capabilities.”

This step follows on from the recently formed partnership between ARX and drone manufacturer Helsing, under which the two firms intend to jointly develop an AI-based reconnaissance and strike network for European defense. ARX and Helsing can draw on field-tested systems and experience gathered in Ukraine, where networked technologies are already playing a crucial role in ground operations.

DEUTZ acquired SOBEK, a leading manufacturer of drive systems for drones, at the start of September and has thus positioned itself as a system provider in the growing ecosystem for unmanned defense systems. Over the past two years, DEUTZ has acquired a number of businesses and entered into partnerships that demonstrate how collaboration between industrial companies and emerging technology leaders can work and add value.

 

For further information on this press release, please contact:

Jakob Barzel Interim Head of Investor Relations, Communications & Marketing Tel.: +49 (0)221 822-3600 Email: jakob.barzelt@deutz.com

Robert Hoenerbach Spokesman Tel.: +49 (0)221 822-2486 Email: robert.hoenerbach@deutz.com

 

About DEUTZ AG

DEUTZ AG has evolved in recent years from a manufacturer of conventional engines into a system provider for innovative and sustainable mobility and energy solutions. Founded in 1864 in Cologne, where it is still based today, DEUTZ is the world’s oldest engine company. The development, production, and marketing of high-performance drive systems for off-highway applications remains at the heart of its operations. DEUTZ is also playing its part in the transition to more sustainable transportation and power supplies by offering alternative drive solutions and decentralized energy and power generation systems. DEUTZ solutions are used in a wide range of applications, including construction equipment, agricultural machinery, material handling equipment such as forklift trucks and lifting platforms, stationary equipment such as generator sets (gensets), and commercial and rail vehicles. The broad-based product portfolio is complemented by an extensive service offering that encompasses maintenance and repair work, the supply of spare parts, and remanufacturing. This is being continually expanded with the addition of digital, data-driven services. With around 1,000 sales and service locations in over 120 countries, DEUTZ offers its customers an integrated range of products and services from a single source. DEUTZ employs more than 5,000 people worldwide and generated revenue of approximately €1.8 billion in 2024. Further information is available at www.deutz.com.

 

About ARX Robotics

ARX Robotics is a leading European defence-technology company that builds Europe’s leading unmanned ground vehicles, the Gereon RCS series, and Mithra OS, an AI-driven operating system that integrates autonomous and legacy assets. ARX Robotics focuses on the digital transformation of land forces and the development of autonomous unmanned systems. Through the ARX Robotic Framework, which combines software-enabled hardware with a modular platform architecture, ARX applies robotics and artificial intelligence to reshape land force capabilities and capacity. Mithra OS modernizes existing vehicle fleets by integrating AI, sensor systems, and software-defined autonomy to create intelligent, connected units. ARX systems and technologies are deployed in several European armed forces and are in use in Ukraine. With strong technology expertise and innovation, ARX Robotics is committed to solutions that maximize soldier protection and enhance Europe’s strategic independence. Our partnership with Valhalla enables advanced weapon integration for maximum operational effectiveness. For more information, visit arxrobotics.com.