Developed in the early 2000s to serve as a replacement for aging jeeps and other vehicles in Brazilian service (Bandeirante and JPX), it has also been adopted by several other South American armies, and is used on peacekeeping missions with the United Nations in Haiti.

Following the bankruptcy of Engesa in early 1990, former employees of the company acquired the rights to the Engesa EE-4/EE-12 utility vehicle, and, working with the Agrale company, developed an improved version of the vehicle between 2003 and 2005 to meet a specification for a 1/2 ton, 4x4 Viatura de Transporte Não Especializada (Non-Specialised Transport Vehicle, VTNE) for the Armed Forces of Brazil, to replace the Jeeps previously in service.

[2] Designed to be versatile, robust, and easy to maintain,[1] the Marruá underwent over 60,000 miles (97,000 km) of testing during its development, and is capable of carrying four fully equipped soldiers, anti-tank missile launchers, recoilless rifles, machine guns, or communications equipment.

[3] Current models of the Marruá are:[4] Military 4x4's featuring MWM motors meeting Euro III standards.

[5] The Marruá has entered service with both the Brazilian Army and the Brazilian Marine Corps,[1] in addition to being acquired by the armies of Ecuador[12] and Argentina, the latter using eighteen vehicles as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti starting in 2009.