Daimler trucker is concerned: Where is the clarity for savings?

Daimler trucker is concerned: Where is the clarity for savings?

The mood in the Daimler Truck plant in Kassel was tense when a company meeting took place on February 7, 2025. Around 3,000 employees gathered to obtain information about planned savings. A total of 1,600 employees took part in the meeting, at which works council chairman Jörg Lorz expressed his disappointment about the lack of concrete information on the austerity measures. However, the factory management and the group were covered in terms of the savings program. An earlier meeting in Leinfelden was even canceled after the board had given insufficient answers.

The planned savings volume of one billion euros by 2030 caused great concern among employees. The works council sees the risk of a personnel loss and is of the opinion that more added value and depth of production at the locations are required. "Zusi", an agreement that excludes operational terminations by the end of 2029 remains, but could be negotiated under new economic framework conditions.

savings program and economic context

Daimler Truck pursues the goal of increasing the return on sales from currently 8% to 15%. The board justifies the measures with the increasing competition from China and an increasing investment requirement. The uncertainty about the effects of the savings is omnipresent. Experts expect personnel reduction to be part of the savings, which also unsettles employees.

reactions of employees and planned measures

The feedback from employees during the meetings in other works, such as Wörth and Stuttgart, reflect similar concerns. In Wörth, where around 10,000 employees are employed, the works council was frustrated about the lack of information. Union spokesman Marc Tinger from IG Metall demanded more clarity about the savings plans and assured that Daimler Truck was not a renovation case and should not be saved. The mood in the Wörther truck plant is pressed and shaped by incomprehension and anger.

As a positive ray of hope, the order of 200 heavy electric trucks (E-Actros 600) through Amazon, which will contribute to the loading of the Kassel work, could be considered. Kassel is responsible for the production of the electric trucks. However, it remains questionable whether these orders are sufficient to dispel the concerns of the employees.