Deutz takes over drive manufacturer Sobek
Sobek, with three locations in Baden-Württemberg and Hesse, is active in several specialised fields of application, including motorsport, aerospace and medical technology. The German company supplies several top teams in Formula 1 and Formula E with high-performance pumps based on its electric motors and control electronics. However, Deutz currently sees the greatest potential in the drone business, particularly in military applications.
As Deutz wrote in a press release, drones are now “one of the top areas of investment by NATO, as the requirements profile of many armed forces is moving away from conventional platforms and toward autonomous and highly mobile systems.” A particular focus is to be placed on unmanned aerial vehicles due to their cost efficiency, rapid availability, and operational flexibility. The drone applications are not limited to military applications, as Deutz further writes: “technology manufactured by Sobek is also suitable for civilian aviation, for example, in areas such as logistics, infrastructure monitoring, and urban transportation.”
In this process, Deutz is not only aiming to expand its customer base, but the company writes that “the logical next step in the transition from component manufacturer to system provider.” The new applications will also expand its current technology base, as the company’s off-highway segment stands to benefit from Sobek’s drive expertise.
“Through SOBEK, we can gain direct access to the rapidly growing defense market and make strategic inroads in this sector beyond the sale of conventional drive systems,” said DEUTZ-CEO Dr. Sebastian C. Schulte. “Defense is rapidly evolving in the wake of new technologies and changes to warfare. And demand for military drones is set to continue to increase. Together with SOBEK, we can proactively position ourselves as a relevant systems partner in this young and rapidly growing market, and we aim to further expand the established business in motor sports and medical technology.”
“Thanks to a global network and the industrialization expertise that Deutz brings to the table, we will be able to integrate our technology into the growing business with drones significantly faster and with greater scalability,” added Dr. Olaf Hahn, current owner and CEO of Sobek. “Together, we are preparing the ground for establishing our electric drive systems as the European standard for defense-critical applications – Made in Germany, of course.”
This is not Deutz’s first foray into the world of e-mobility, as the company was the owner of electric drive manufacturer Torqeedo, but it was sold to Yamaha in April 2024. At the Bauma trade fair in 2022, Deutz also presented multiple electric construction vehicles.
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