MAN to shed 1800 staff

German truck manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus has announced another suite of strategic changes to streamline its operations, with the loss of 1800 staff complementing a broader reshuffle of the firm's production sites in Germany (Munich and Salzgitter), Austria (Steyr), Poland (Krakow) and Turkey (Ankara).

The Volkswagen subsidiary has stated that no compulsory redundancies will be made; rather the 1800 jobs to go – 1400 management positions and 400 production positions – will be achieved through offering "voluntary redundancies, semi-retirement, and not re-filling positions should they become vacant".

The realignment of the four production sites' roles will ensure that "in the future, each location has clear areas of responsibilities and core competencies".

The changes will see heavy trucks assembled at the Munich and Krakow sites, while cab shells and painting will shift to Munich. Medium and light trucks will continue to be manufactured in Steyr, which will also take on a new plastic painting and truck modification centre.

Spare parts and logistics will move from Munich to Salzgitter – the latter also becoming a component and re-manufacturing plant – while bus and coach production will move to Ankara, Turkey.

MAN Truck & Bus CEO Joachim Drees said the changes would ultimately make the company far more competitive.

"With the refocusing of MAN Truck & Bus, we will be much better positioned in the competitive environment," he said in a media statement.

"We will work more efficiently and make our plants more flexible. Our strategic program will not only pave the way for sustainable growth in the medium term, but also secure the jobs of our employees."