Mercedes-Benz Offers Up to 330,000 Euros in Severance to Production Staff in Germany

The company ran a voluntary severance program from April 2025 through March 2026. A new initiative started at the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and Berlin plants in September 2026. This production-focused phase concludes in November 2026. Management intends to offer voluntary severance to administration and development staff beginning in December 2026.

1. The program offers financial incentives for voluntary departures. A 50-year-old master craftsman at the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant qualifies for approximately 330,000 euros.

2. Younger staff members also receive substantial payouts. Employees with 12 years of service qualify for roughly 113,000 euros.

3. The initiative operates on a principle of double voluntariness. The company retains essential skilled workers by denying specific severance requests.

4. Mercedes-Benz will extend severance offers beyond production roles. Starting in December 2026, the company will offer severance packages to administration and development staff.

1. Employees who choose to terminate their employment through these severance agreements may face a 12-week waiting period before they can receive unemployment benefits.

2. The voluntary severance program at the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and Berlin plants concludes in November 2026. Handelsblatt reported that the programs are set to run 'erst einmal' until that date.

3. The company offers these packages. An agreement guarantees employment security for staff in Germany through December 31, 2034.

4. The severance program applies only to selected production areas.