Around 2,000 skilled workers currently manufacture various versions of the Sprinter in Ludwigsfelde, Brandenburg. However, the outlook for the site is bleaking. According to the state government, series production is scheduled to end by the end of 2029. Mercedes is reorienting itself and plans to build the electric versions of the Sprinter in Poland in the future. (ntv: 03.09.2025)
Sprinter production to continue until 2029
The state government refers to a response from Economics Minister Daniel Keller to a query from the CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament. According to the response, production capacity in Ludwigsfelde is guaranteed until 2029. This is due to the strategic relocation of E-Sprinter production to Poland. According to dpa, Keller emphasized that the timeline is clearly defined: “The company intends to phase out series production of Sprinter models at the Ludwigsfelde site by the end of 2029.”
Mercedes management and the works council previously agreed on job security, which is to last until December 2029. There is currently no clear perspective for the period thereafter. The ministry made it clear that there is no solution that guarantees equivalent production at the current level.
Future plans with new concepts
Preliminary considerations are underway for the period after 2029. According to the state government, a so-called ramp-up factory for future van models is being discussed. Ludwigsfelde is also considered a possible location for a competence center that will focus on the customization of electric vans. Whether these projects will preserve existing jobs at the plant remains questionable.
The state government is also pushing for solutions. Internal combustion engine models of the Sprinter are to be manufactured in Ludwigsfelde as long as these vehicles are still available. The state is also demanding compensation for the future loss of production.
No comment from Mercedes
Mercedes headquarters has not yet responded to direct inquiries from the press. The Märkische Allgemeine newspaper was the first to report on the planned change. Open-top Sprinter vans are being built in Ludwigsfelde, while the company also operates production sites in Düsseldorf and Charleston, USA. Both fossil-fuel models and electric versions roll off the assembly line there.
Uncertainty remains high. Even though the plant is modernly equipped, many employees are skeptical about the coming years. However, the state government emphasizes its belief in Ludwigsfelde’s strengths. It points to the high motivation and qualifications of the workforce, which could be an important factor for Mercedes’ future projects.
Hope for negotiations
Policymakers and employee representatives are now hoping for further talks with Mercedes. The goal remains to secure the Ludwigsfelde site in the long term. For the employees, this is about their professional future. The role the plant will play in the future alongside the sites in Germany, the USA, and Poland depends on the company’s decisions.