Sisu Auto and Valmet Automotive have signed a cooperation agreement to utilize Valmet’s Uusikaupunki manufacturing plant for the production of Finnish military vehicles, marking a major shift in the use of the facility traditionally dedicated to luxury and sports car manufacturing. The collaboration supports Finland’s push to strengthen its domestic defense industrial base.
Valmet’s Uusikaupunki factory, located in southwest Finland, has a long track record in advanced automotive manufacturing, having produced vehicles and components for brands such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Saab, and Fisker. The site’s expertise in high-precision assembly makes it well suited for defense vehicle production, according to the companies.
The partnership will center on the assembly of Sisu Auto’s GT vehicle family, including the GTP 4×4 mine-protected tactical vehicle and the GTT all-terrain platform. Designed for harsh operational environments, the GTP offers armored personnel transport capabilities, while the GTT supports multiple mission configurations such as logistics, command and control, artillery support, and medical evacuation.
Production expansion at the site is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits, with output of up to 300 vehicles creating more than 300 new jobs each year. The initiative follows a similar agreement between Valmet Automotive and Patria, signed in early December, under which the Uusikaupunki facility will begin producing Patria’s Protected Mobility vehicles from 2026.
