Schmitz Cargobull Acquires Majority Stake in Australian Freighter Group
The increased investment builds on the strategic partnership announced in April 2023 and underlines Schmitz Cargobull’s long-term commitment to the Australian market. For Freighter Group, this partnership ensures long-term stability and provides direct access to Schmitz Cargobull’s global expertise and product development pipeline.
“We have been serving Australian customers for 15 years and by increasing our stake in Freighter Group, we are reaffirming our long-term commitment to the Australian market,” said Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull. “This step is also testament to our belief in the strength of the local team. Our role is to support and enable the continued development of Freighter Group — providing access to global expertise, technology and networks, while the Freighter team continues to shape the business with its deep local knowledge and customer focus.”
The majority acquisition builds on significant recent investments, including the $50 million upgrade of the Ballarat manufacturing facility, transforming it into a modern, advanced production hub.
This infrastructure enables Freighter Group to seamlessly integrate Schmitz Cargobull’s global engineering and production technologies with proven Australian-built durability.
Beyond manufacturing, the business continues to strengthen its aftermarket service and parts network, ensuring customers benefit from increased uptime and access to both local and global parts supply chains.
Michael Temminghoff, new CEO of Freighter Group
Freighter Group also announces the appointment of Michael Temminghoff as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. He brings extensive leadership experience, having worked for Schmitz Cargobull in multiple roles for over 15 years. He is focused on supporting the continued development of Freighter Group, strengthening its capabilities while preserving the company’s customer-first culture.
“I am honoured to lead Freighter Group at such a pivotal moment,” said Michael. “The synergy between Schmitz Cargobull’s global scale and Freighter Group’s local expertise is an exciting opportunity. Our role is to build on the strengths of the local business, supported by global capabilities and experience, and to help the team unlock its full potential – while further strengthening the quality and reliability our customers expect.”
“The business enters this new chapter on a strong footing, thanks to a period of intense modernisation that has prepared the workforce and the facility for high-tech production,” said Michael. Adding that the dedication of the local team has been the driving force behind this transformation, laying the foundations necessary to thrive in an evolving market.
Freighter Group will continue to operate under its renowned name, ensuring that the legacy of this iconic Australian brand remains intact as it builds the next generation of solutions for the Australian transport industry.
Acerca de Schmitz Cargobull
Schmitz Cargobull es el fabricante líder de semirremolques para carga con temperatura controlada, carga general y mercancías a granel en Europa y pionero en soluciones digitales para servicios del remolque y conectividad. La compañía también fabrica equipos de frío para semirremolques frigoríficos. Con una amplia gama de servicios que van desde financiación, suministro de repuestos, contratos de servicio y soluciones telemáticas hasta el comercio de vehículos usados, Schmitz Cargobull ayuda a sus clientes a optimizar su coste total de propiedad (TCO) y su transformación digital. Schmitz Cargobull se fundó en 1892 en Renania del Norte-Westfalia, Alemania. La empresa familiar produce alrededor de 50.000 vehículos al año con más de 6.000 empleados y generó una facturación de alrededor de 2.25 millones de euros en el ejercicio 2025/26. La red de producción internacional se compone actualmente plantas en Alemania, Lituania, España, Reino Unido, Turquía y Rumanía.
El equipo de prensa de Schmitz Cargobull:
Raquel Villarroya: +34 619 154 244 I raquel.villarroya@cargobull.com
Anna Stuhlmeier: +49 2558 81-1340 I anna.stuhlmeier@cargobull.com
Andrea Beckonert: +49 2558 81-1321 I andrea.beckonert@cargobull.com
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Image 1: Schmitz Cargobull has taken a majority (72%) share in Freighter Group
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Image 2: Michael Temminghoff, CEO Freighter Group
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Image 3: Andreas Schmitz, CEO Schmitz Cargobull
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Press Release: Schmitz Cargobull Acquires Majority Stake in Australian Freighter Group
