Daimler Truck's board expresses regret to the central staff body in a meeting setting
Daimler Truck, the German truck manufacturing giant, has announced a cost-cutting program aimed at saving over €1 billion annually. As part of this program, the company plans to cut around 5,000 jobs in Germany by 2030.
The announcement was made in May 2025, and the General Works Council was involved in the discussions. However, there seems to be a disagreement over the specific number of jobs to be cut. The works council chairman, Michael Brecht, publicly demanded that the board correct its claim regarding the exact number of job losses.
Despite this disagreement, Daimler Truck emphasized a socially responsible approach to workforce reduction, pledging to avoid compulsory redundancies until the end of 2034. The job reductions are planned to be achieved primarily through natural attrition, partial retirement, and voluntary severance programs across all five German sites.
The board aims to achieve the savings targets as part of the cost-cutting program. However, they have clarified that there is currently no agreement on the exact number of jobs to be cut. The potential job cuts have caused significant unrest among employees, leading to a call for transparency and open communication.
In response to the unrest, Daimler Truck CEO, Karin Radström, has apologized in a video message to employees. She acknowledged the difficulties that the proposed changes may bring and expressed her commitment to finding the best solution for both the company and its employees.
The board also acknowledged the agreements and plans to examine how German sites can become more competitive. They are currently in discussions with the General Works Council to reevaluate the potential job cuts and find a solution that is fair to all parties involved.
[1] Daimler Truck Announces Cost-Cutting Program, Including Job Cuts (May 2025) [2] Daimler Truck and General Works Council Agree on Job Cuts (May 2025) [3] Daimler Truck CEO Apologizes for Job Cuts (July 2025) [4] Daimler Truck Job Cuts Cause Unrest Among Employees (July 2025)
- The cost-cutting program announced by Daimler Truck in May 2025, aimed at saving over €1 billion annually, includes job cuts within the finance and business sectors of the industry, with plans to reduce around 5,000 jobs in Germany by 2030.
- The disagreement over the exact number of job cuts, initially made by Daimler Truck, is currently under discussion between the company's board and the General Works Council, with the council chairman, Michael Brecht, requesting clarification on the matter.
