The program aims to renew the Army's truck fleet, with
the total number reported to be 2,000 trucks and worth
just under 1 billion euros.
The contract award was not officially announced, but
the contract win by Iveco and its French partner, Lohr,
was reported in business daily Les Echos.
The Soframe military unit of the private Lohr group,
based near Strasbourg in eastern France, will act as a
supplier to Iveco.
The chairman of Renault Trucks, Stefano Chmielewski,
wrote an open letter in Les Echos on Dec. 30, protesting
against press commentary alleging economic nationalism
after its Renault Trucks Defense unit lodged an appeal
against the award to Iveco, the trucks division of Fiat.
Renault Trucks is a subsidiary of the Swedish Volvo auto
group but has a large industrial presence in France.
Renault Trucks Defense had bid in the competition, lost
and lodged an appeal in an administrative tribunal. When
the appeal failed in mid-December, the way was open for
Defense Minister Alain Juppé to ratify the selection
by the DGA.
The truck contract was duly signed with Iveco at the
end of December, promptly the angry letter from the head
of Renault Trucks.
Under the contract, four models of the truck will be
supplied: a container version; one to carry shelters,
cargo and personnel; a recovery vehicle; and one for carrying
a skip. The Iveco truck is described as highly maneuverable
and can operate on all surface conditions. The first batch
consists of 150 of the container model and 50 recovery
vehicles, equipped with armored cabins.
