Mercedes-Benz Truck Plant in Ludwigsfelde Celebrates 30th Anniversary

The Mercedes-Benz Truck plant in Ludwigsfelde (Brandenburg) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Following the entry of Mercedes, the former East German vehicle manufacturing continued, modernized, and gradually expanded. Over 50,000 vehicles roll off the production lines in Ludwigsfelde each year. Today, 2,000 people work there.

(Ludwigsfelde) Exactly 30 years ago, the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle, a truck LN2, rolled off the production line in Ludwigsfelde, which is now Daimler’s third-largest van plant worldwide. Today, around 200 of the so-called open variants of the Sprinter (chassis, platform, drive unit) roll off the line daily, with significantly more than 50,000 produced annually. To date, more than 820,000 vehicles bearing the star logo have been produced at the Brandenburg plant and sold worldwide.

From Truck to Van – Restart After the Wende

The journey began with the truck model LN2, quickly followed by the first van, the T2, which was also produced from 1991 to 1996. The T2 was succeeded by the Vario and finally the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, whose open variants have been manufactured in Brandenburg since 2006. Currently, the third generation of the Sprinter, along with its derivatives, the wind catcher and the drive unit, is being produced in Ludwigsfelde. These serve as the basis for many different types of vehicles, such as ambulances, motorhomes, or refrigerated transporters.

Economic Strength and Security for the Region

Even three decades ago, the plant in Ludwigsfelde was one of the largest and thus most important industrial employers in the region. On the occasion of the anniversary, Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dr. Dietmar Woidke emphasized: “What began 30 years ago has developed into a success story. I am glad that the former East German vehicle manufacturing in Ludwigsfelde was stabilized and expanded thanks to the entry of Mercedes-Benz after 1990. Ludwigsfelde is thus one of the success stories of German unity. With the Stuttgart traditional company, Brandenburg has a long-standing reliable and strong economic partner.

Joy at the State Government

The state government is aware of the current difficult situation of companies and their employees during the Corona pandemic. We are doing everything possible to ensure good framework conditions so that we can start well after the foreseeable end of the pandemic. And this also applies to the Sprinter production in Ludwigsfelde. Last summer, I visited the plant and got an impression of the Sprinter production under pandemic conditions with special protective measures. The readiness of the workforce and the high standards for safety and health of employees in the plant are impressive.”

In recent years, Mercedes-Benz Vans has invested significantly in the future of the plant, totaling around one billion euros. “The plant is a cornerstone of our global production network,” says Dr. Ingo Ettischer, Head of Production at Mercedes-Benz Vans. “We have already set the course in recent years to position Ludwigsfelde for the future, especially in light of the transformation towards electric and connected vans. Additionally, the increasing digitization of production is taking place. All of this requires innovation, know-how, and professionalism – which the Ludwigsfelde team impressively demonstrates every day.”

The Most Important Capital: The Team

Today, more than 2,000 people work at Mercedes-Benz in Ludwigsfelde, the majority of whom are involved in the production of the latest generation of the Sprinter. “There is a decisive factor that determines our sustainable success here at the site: Our team,” says the plant manager and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde GmbH, Dr. Markus Keicher. “Only with the right people can you successfully produce vehicles over such a long period. It takes a well-coordinated team that gives their all every day to ensure that the vehicles meet customer requirements and hold their own on roads worldwide – for years to come.”

Production in the Course of Time

The production process has changed significantly over the past 30 years, and the plant has been continuously developed. Thanks to its efficiency and numerous innovations, Ludwigsfelde is now one of the most modern locations in the group. In recent years, digitization has increasingly made its way into production at Mercedes-Benz Vans, whether in the form of driverless transport systems, exoskeletons, or the use of RFID chips in logistics processes.

Photo: © Mercedes
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