Axel Ediger to Lead Mercedes-Benz Düsseldorf Plant from September 1, 2026
Axel Ediger will become production and site manager of Mercedes-Benz's Düsseldorf van plant on September 1, 2026, succeeding Claudia Malkus.
- 325,000 square meters
- 5,500
- 1993
- September 1, 2026
What Happened
Axel Ediger, currently head of production planning assembly at Mercedes-Benz's Sindelfingen plant, will take over as production and site manager of the Mercedes-Benz Vans plant in Düsseldorf on September 1, 2026. He succeeds Claudia Malkus, who will assume leadership of global powertrain production for Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart on October 1, 2026. The Düsseldorf plant produces the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and eSprinter vans and is one of the largest industrial employers in the region.
“With Axel Ediger, an internationally experienced production manager is taking over the management of our plant in Düsseldorf. With his comprehensive expertise, he will continue the successful development of the site and, together with the dedicated team on site, drive forward the transformation and future viability of the plant. This includes, among other things, the smooth ramp-up of production o”
Started at Mercedes-Benz in technical service at the Sindelfingen plant.
Moved to Bangkok, Thailand as head of the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) plant.
Transferred to Beijing, China to lead production of MFA series and C-Class models.
Returned to Sindelfingen to head assembly, including the ramp-up of Factory 56.
Took responsibility for global production planning assembly.
325,000square meters
The Düsseldorf plant covers this area for manufacturing vans.
The Düsseldorf plant, which produces the closed body variants of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and eSprinter, has been building the eSprinter since 2019 and the new generation since 2023. With around 5,500 employees, it is a major industrial employer and training provider in the region. The plant's future includes the ramp-up of vehicles based on the new Mercedes-Benz Van Architecture, which underpins upcoming electric models like the VLE.
Why this matters
This leadership change comes as the Düsseldorf plant prepares to launch vehicles based on the new Mercedes-Benz Van Architecture, including the electric VLE. Ediger's international experience in production planning will be crucial for the plant's transformation and future competitiveness. The plant employs around 5,500 workers and is a key employer in the region.
Terms in This Story
- Completely Knocked Down (CKD)
- A kit of vehicle parts shipped to another location for final assembly.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.