As Volkswagen and Ford prepare for war, will British factories follow suit?

Even before the US ripped through more than 3,700 missiles in its attacks on Iran, the Pentagon’s weapons donations to Ukraine had Washington worried about the size of US stockpiles. 

President Donald Trump froze deliveries to Ukraine of $4m-a-shot Patriot missiles last summer after it emerged that the US only had about a quarter of the interceptors needed to meet its military plans.

Replenishing $2.6m-a-pop Tomahawk cruise missiles will take until at least 2030, and the $15.5m-per-launch THAAD anti-ballistic missiles won’t be refilled until 2029, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggesting a bill of at least $17bn. 

The choke on missiles is joined by a global shortage of 155mm artillery shells, alongside an exponentially rising demand for drones. 

Now, a novel solution has emerged. Repeating the practices of World War II, car factories in France, Germany and the US are being considered for repurposing to produce ammunition and defence components.

Ford and GM are in negotiations with the Pentagon to make missile components, while Volkswagen could produce parts for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.  

Mercedes-Benz, according to the Wall Street Journal, is also open to helping rearmament efforts, and Renault in France is set to produce drones.

But so far all is quiet in the UK.