MAN Truck & Bus, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and Poland’s WB Group have formed a strategic partnership to develop and supply defence and military mobility solutions for European armed forces.
Announced at the MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland on 8 September 2026, this partnership will combine MAN’s commercial vehicle expertise with RMMV’s military vehicle capabilities and WB Group’s command, communications, reconnaissance and unmanned systems.
One of the first visible outcomes is the revival of the STAR brand in Poland, a name with deep roots in the country’s commercial and military transport history.
STAR Returns With Modern MAN Technology
MAN will use the STAR name for non-combat military logistics and support vehicles in Poland. These vehicles can also be supplied to organisations such as the Red Cross, emergency services and fire brigades.
MAN and RMMV are also opening the STAR brand to potential partnerships with bodybuilders and other companies, with the aim of expanding business opportunities in Poland’s military sector.
At MSPO, MAN displayed a military logistics vehicle based on a MAN TGS 6×6 carrying the STAR branding.
Future STAR trucks will be based on the current MAN TGM and TGS series. They will incorporate modern vehicle technology, the latest assistance systems and current safety standards.
The chassis will be manufactured at MAN’s plant in Kraków, reinforcing the company’s focus on local production.
Combining Polish Heritage With New Defence Capabilities
STAR was founded in 1948 and became one of Poland’s best-known commercial vehicle brands, supplying trucks for both civilian and military applications.
The brand also gained international recognition in 1979 when a STAR truck formed the basis of the first Popemobile used by Pope John Paul II.
Following MAN’s acquisition of the STAR truck business, STAR vehicles increasingly adopted MAN technology while retaining their Polish identity.
More than 10,000 STAR vehicles remain in service, according to MAN, giving the revived brand an existing legacy in the country’s transport sector.
The new partnership is intended to take that heritage into a more modern defence environment.
Under the partners’ proposed European Defence Initiative, the companies will explore joint development, integration and production of defence solutions, with a particular focus on scalable and interoperable military mobility systems.
MAN and RMMV will contribute proven vehicle platforms, while WB Group brings expertise in communications, command and control, reconnaissance, unmanned systems and vehicle and system integration.
MAN Expands Its Polish Industrial Footprint
The STAR revival also forms part of MAN’s wider investment in Poland.
MAN has operated in the country for more than 30 years, with around 7,000 employees and production facilities in Kraków and Starachowice, as well as a Modification Centre in Sady. The MAN TGE is also produced in Poznań.
The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Polish government covering around €1.2 billion in investments at its Kraków site.
The truck plant is being expanded from around 130,000 sq m to 270,000 sq m, with the future facility expected to have capacity for up to 300 vehicles and cabs per day.
The expanded plant is intended to support production of the next generation of MAN trucks, including electric vehicles.
MAN delivered around 9,000 vehicles in Poland in 2025, supported by almost 40 sales and service locations.
“With our ‘Made in Poland’ approach and our revived STAR brand, we are combining local production, a strong service network and close cooperation with Polish partners to develop mission-oriented transport solutions,” said Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus.
For MAN, the return of STAR is therefore more than a heritage exercise. It provides a recognisable Polish identity for a new range of locally produced logistics vehicles while connecting MAN’s commercial truck platforms with the country’s growing defence-industrial requirements.
CarTok Editor’s Note
The revival of STAR is an example of how an old automotive name can be given a new role without becoming a nostalgia exercise.
For Poland, there is obvious value in putting a familiar national brand on vehicles that will be produced locally and supported by an established industrial and service network. The fact that MAN is opening the STAR umbrella to bodybuilders and other partners also suggests this is intended as an ecosystem instead of a rebadging exercise.
Modern military logistics depends heavily on connectivity, interoperability and unmanned technologies. Bringing commercial vehicle manufacturing, military systems and Polish technology expertise together would give the partnership a more competitive proposition across Europe.
