Mercedes-Benz closes logistics center: 160 jobs in danger!

Mercedes-Benz has announced today that the Lower Olm logistics location near Mainz will be closed. This is part of a comprehensive strategy for reducing costs that should be implemented without taboos. Around 160 employees are affected by the closure, but they are to be taken over.

In addition, the managers of Mercedes-Benz Group AG are obliged to give up the home office. From January 2024, all managers will have to work again in the company from the department head level. This decision is interpreted in particular as a disadvantage for female managers. There is suspicion that the abolition of the home office control could urge employees to terminate.

Details on closure and affected employees

The complete closure of the logistics center in Nieder-Olm reduces the number of German logistics centers from five to four. In addition to the location in Nieder-Olm, Mercedes-Benz also operates logistics centers in Hanover, Cologne, Nuremberg and Reutlingen. It is unclear whether similar measures are planned for these other locations. The closure is perceived as a severe blow in the region, and local politics has sharply criticized this decision. The mayor describes the closure as a "heavy blow" for the region.

The IG Metall announced that resistance to the closure plans and to examine legal options. These measures contradict a recent future agreement with the works council, which provided a location securing by the end of 2027. In addition, it was announced at a last employee meeting that the logistics center in Nieder-Olm will be taken out of the spare parts network. This decision is based on a forecast that assesses the performance of the German logistics centers as lying under expectations. So far, the approximately 160 -person employee has been an important part of partial logistics for Europe and served as a link between the Global Logistics Center in Germersheim and the customers.