Mercedes-Benz is considering selling its branches in Germany. The company announced on Friday that it concerns all self-owned car dealerships and workshops. The review is open-ended and step-by-step. “Mercedes-Benz is open to discussions with possible buyers of the group’s own branches.” Only experienced companies would be considered as buyers.
“We are not planning to sell to pure financial investors and closing locations is not part of the review.” In addition, there are no plans to sell all branches as a package. Layoffs not planned. In total there are 80 companies with a total of 8,000 employees. “Physical trading is and remains a central pillar for the success of Mercedes-Benz,” the statement said. Neither employees should be laid off nor branches closed. The company also strives for close coordination with the works council. The job security for all collective bargaining employees until 2029 also continues to apply. The Supervisory Board will address the issue on Friday; the employee side must agree to a sale. According to a report in the “Handelsblatt”, a fundamental agreement should be reached with the works councils by the summer. Mercedes has already sold its own branches abroad in recent years and only has its own car dealerships in Germany.
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