Uncertain future for Mercedes in Ludwigsfelde, according to Brandenburg reports

The IG Metall union is rallying for the future of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Ludwigsfelde, Germany, as the company plans to phase out the series production of Sprinter models by the end of 2029.

Mercedes-Benz announced a realignment of its van business in May 2023, with the intention to reduce costs and improve its competitive position in the rapidly growing electromobility sector. As part of this restructuring, the company plans to end the production of Sprinter models at the Ludwigsfelde site, securing employment for its approximately 2,000 employees until the end of December 2029.

However, the future of the plant after 2029 remains uncertain. The planned relocation of e-Sprinter production to Poland leaves the site's long-term future in question. The site is expected to transition into a competence center for individual manufacturing, potentially reducing the workforce significantly after 2030.

The IG Metall union, led by its first appointed representative in Ludwigsfelde, Tobias Kunzmann, is not accepting this phase-out. An action day is planned for Saturday, September 13, to fight for the plant's future. The union believes that the site, with its qualified and highly motivated workforce, has future prospects.

The Brandenburg state government shares this sentiment and is pushing for adequate compensation for any potential loss of production at the Ludwigsfelde plant. CDU state parliamentarian, Danny Eichelbaum, has urged Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) to make the future of the plant a top priority.

In coordination with the social partners, further options are being examined. Dialogues have been ongoing to implement the agreed future scenarios. The electric Van.EA platform, for which a ramp-up factory has been established at the Ludwigsfelde plant, is one such scenario.

The plant currently produces open variants of the Sprinter and e-Sprinter, as well as Sprinters with electric powertrains. Despite the planned phase-out, the company remains committed to leading in electromobility, aiming to improve its competitive position in this sector.

As the IG Metall union and the Brandenburg state government continue their fight for the plant's future, no solution has been found yet for the period after 2029 that could provide full compensation for the phasing out of production at a constant employment level. The battle for the Ludwigsfelde plant's future is far from over.