Auto industry: Brandenburg sees uncertainty for Mercedes in Ludwigsfelde

The Brandenburg state government sees uncertainties for the future of the Sprinter series production by Mercedes-Benz in Ludwigsfelde. The car manufacturer said: “The Mercedes-Benz-Werk Ludwigsfelde is currently producing the open tree patterns of the sprinter and e-sprinter-as long as the demand for our customers is after that.”

Previously, Brandenburg’s Economic Minister Daniel Keller (SPD) announced in an answer to an inquiry from the CDU parliamentary group: “The company intends to let the series production of Sprinter models expire at the Ludwigsfelde location by the end of 2029.” This state of affairs arises from talks from the state government with all those involved in the employer and the employee side.

Employment secured by the end of 2029

According to the state government, employment security was negotiated between the management and the works council up to and including December 2029. “There is still no solution for the period from 2030 that could offer a complete compensation for expiring production at a constant level of employment,” said the Ministry. “The background to this time limit is the planned shift of the production of e-sprinter models to Poland.”

Mercedes-Benz pointed out that the company communicated a reorganization to Vans in May 2023. “Since then we have been in exchange with our social partners to implement the agreed future pictures together,” said Mercedes. In the meantime, a so-called start-up factory for the Van.ea electric platform in Ludwigsfelde has been established. “Further options are examined in coordination with the social partners.”

In May 2023, the carmaker announced that he wanted to significantly reduce its costs in the transporter business in order to increase competitiveness with regard to costs and to be a leading in electromobility.

Brandenburg wants to equalize

Previously, the “Märkische General” had reported on the assessment of the state government. In Ludwigsfelde, around 2,000 employees produce Sprinter with open tree tables. Mercedes -Benz offers Sprinter with fossil fuels and electric drive – there are works in Ludwigsfelde, Düsseldorf and Charleston (USA).

The Brandenburg State Government penetrates sufficient compensation for a possible loss of production. She “continues to see future opportunities for the modern work in Ludwigsfelde with its qualified and highly motivated workforce”.

IG Metall wants to fight for the work. “We don’t want to accept it that way,” said the first representative in Ludwigsfelde, Tobias Kunzmann. A day of action is planned on Saturday, September 13th. The CDU member of the state parliament Danny Eichelbaum called Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) of making the future of the work a top priority.