MTU Friedrichshafen

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
MTU Solutions
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryManufacturing
Founded23 March 1909; 117 years ago (1909-03-23)
FounderWilhelm Maybach
Headquarters
Friedrichshafen, Germany
Key peopleJoerg Stratmann (CEO)
ProductsDiesel engines & generators, molten carbonate fuel cells
OwnerRolls-Royce Power Systems
ParentRolls-Royce Holdings
Websitewww.mtu-solutions.com Edit this at Wikidata

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, trading as MTU Solutions (stylised as mtu Solutions) is a German manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909. MTU derives from Motoren- und Turbinen-Union meaning 'Motor (Engine) and Turbine Union'.

Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), a predecessor company of the German multinational automotive corporation Daimler AG, until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909, he founded the new company, Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH (Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Corp), with his son Karl Maybach as director. A few years later the company was renamed to Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH (Maybach Engine Manufacturing Corp), which originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for Zeppelins, and then railcars. The Maybach Mb.IVa was used in aircraft and airships of World War I.

The company first built an experimental car in 1919, with the first production model introduced two years later at the Berlin Motor Show. Between 1921 and 1940, the company produced various classic opulent vehicles. The company also continued to build heavy duty diesel engines for marine and rail purposes. During World War II, Maybach produced the engines for Germany's medium and heavy tanks. The company was renamed MTU Friedrichshafen in the 1960s and continued to supply the engines for the Leopard 2 main battle tank. In 1966 MTU merged with Mercedes-Benz Motorenbau.

MTU Friedrichshafen remained a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler until 2006 when it was sold to the EQT IV private equity fund, becoming a part of the Tognum Corporation.

Rolls-Royce Holdings and Daimler AG acquired Tognum in 2011. In 2014, Tognum was renamed Rolls-Royce Power Systems, having become a wholly owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Holdings.

The company manufactures diesel engines for trains, ships, oil and gas installations, military vehicles, agriculture, mining and construction equipment, as well as diesel generators and molten carbonate fuel cells.

History

Diesel engines

Criticism

Gaza

MTU Friedrichshafen manufactures the MT-883 diesel engine used in Israel's Merkava Mk. 4 and Mk. 5 main battle tanks. Continued provision of engines, power-pack components and engineering support has made MTU part of the supply chain sustaining Israel's armoured forces during the Gaza genocide.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MTU | YachtBuyer".
  2. ↑ "MTU Friedrichshafen". masstransit.network.
  3. ↑ Wagenheim, Mike (23 February 2026). "Pentagon awards $73.5 million contract to power Merkava tanks". Jewish News Syndicate.
  4. ↑ "Global: Rolls-Royce Holdings. The UK's second largest weapons manufacturer. Its German subsidiary MTU makes the engines for Israel's battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and warships". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. 3 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Germany's support for the Israeli occupation and genocide". Transnational Institute. 2025.
  6. ↑ "States and companies must end arms transfers to Israel immediately or risk responsibility for international crimes, UN experts warn". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 20 June 2024.

See also