The State of Bremen:
Leader in Automobile Production
The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 1
Bremen: At the Center of Europe – Connected to the Entire World
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53° 5 N, 8° 48 E – Bremen s geographic position is well-known to every ship’s captain. Together with
Bremerhaven, some 40 miles upriver, the city forms the Federal State of Bremen. Thanks to its
location at the lower course of the river Weser not far from the North Sea, Bremen has
been one of the most important port and trading cities in Europe from the middle
ages to the present day. However, Bremen has much more to offer.
Bremerhaven
Bremen
Introduction
The automotive sector is one of the most important industries in Germany and plays a key role in growth, employment and innovation. In recent years the state of Bremen
has developed into an automotive center of excellence
with a unique profile.
Bremen is a car city – forward-looking, and with history,
with heart and with mind, spanning the region and the
world. Bremen’s extensive automotive expertise comes
from many directions and sources and an extraordinary
combination of production and logistics, trade and transportation, research and development has emerged right
here.
The linchpin is the Bremen Mercedes-Benz plant of Daimler AG, which produces over 300,000 cars per year and employs more people than any other company in the city. The
Bremen plant is the lead plant for world-wide production
of the C Class, the best-selling Mercedes model.
A good number of other internationally renowned and leading automotive technology suppliers are located here as
well – Hella, Lear, Johnson Controls, and ZF Services among
them. In addition, many automotive equipment and service providers as well as workshops have established a
presence in Bremen.
Our sister-city Bremerhaven is home to one of the largest
car ports in the world and the continental European leader
in automotive logistics – a tailor-made industrial area for
the automotive sector. Research and development are excellently represented here. Bremen is also a model region
for electric mobility. And finally, the Hanseatic city is the
birthplace of the cult automobile Borgward, first produced
in 1906.
In fact this center of excellence can hardly be grasped in
its entirety by virtue of the many overlapping and intersecting fields of endeavor pursued. Because of close links
with other industrial sectors, these economic activities are
a very important pillar of industrial development along the
river Weser.
The importance of the automotive branch is also reflected
in the fact that associations, institutions and companies in
the Bremen-Oldenburg region here in northwest Germany
have formed their own network. In response to increasing
globalization, an increasing demand for skilled workers and
high requirements for innovation, the network is growing
– with Bremen as a regional center. The automotive knowhow that is gathered here is one of the great strengths of
our location.
The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 3
Automobile Production
The Mercedes-Benz Plant, Bremen
Formerly Borgward, today Mercedes. These two significant
German car brands have been intimately associated with
Bremen for decades. The Hanseatic city has gasoline in her
blood: Where once Carl Borgward built his legendary cars,
today Daimler mounts a star on their product and sets the
standard for forward-looking automobile production. Since
1978, more than six million Mercedes Benz passenger cars
have been produced in Bremen.
Currently (2013) there are eight models: the C-Class sedan,
station wagon and coupe, the E-Class coupe and convertible, the GLK (SUV) and the two roadsters (SLK and SL). Regardless of model or equipment, vehicles can be run flexibly
in any order down the assembly line – and built exactly to
order. The market research firm JD Power and Associates
gave its 2011 award for Best Automobile Production Plant
in Europe to the Bremen plant, based on its production
quality.
With more than 12,800 employees, the SebaldsbrückBremen facility is the largest private employer in the region
and covers more than 1.5 million square meters (about
370 acres). Through 2014, Daimler AG is investing about one
billion euros in the facility since the Bremen plant has a
new and prominent role in the world-wide Mercedes production network: Bremen is the designated Center of Excellence for the new generation C Class and manages and
directs production of this high-volume line in three plants
abroad – Tuscaloosa (USA), Beijing (China) and East London
(South Africa).
2014 Bremen to be designated the International
Center of Excellence for the C Class
2013 The 1 millionth roadster from Bremen is
completed
2012 The 1 millionth C Class is completed
2007 The first of the new C Class rolls off the line
1978 Mercedes cars first production in Bremen
1971 Daimler Benz takes over the Borgward plant
1938 The Carl F.W. Borgward Automobile and
Motor Works opens
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The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 5
Automotive Suppliers
Innovation with Teamwork
Suppliers are essential players in the automotive industry.
Their flexibility, creativity and innovative powers are a decisive factor in a manufacturer’s success. More and more
services in production and development are provided by
suppliers. In-house production depth and the degree of
added value have changed significantly in recent years.
Automotive suppliers now account for around three-quarters of the value of an average car. In addition, more and
more logistics companies are assuming responsibility for
coordinating system and component deliveries to optimize
production ( just-in-time and just-in-sequence).
In Bremen there are a number of highly productive and
technologically outstanding suppliers. One is Hella Car
Components GmbH (Hella Fahrzeugkomponentenbau
GmbH – HFK). The Bremen location is the lead plant for
sensors, actuators and headlamp cleaning systems for the
entire Hella Group, which ranks among the top 50 automotive suppliers globally and among the 100 largest industrial companies in Germany. Hella, as a global center of
excellence for sensors, plays a central role in the international activities of the Hella Group. The Bremen plant, with
600 employees, received the Automotive Lean Production
Award in 2012 for its exemplary lean manufacturing.
The Lear Corporation, a leading global supplier for interior
automobile components and power management systems,
also has a Bremen facility. At the Bremen Lear plant, the
650 employees complete seat systems for Mercedes models and produce them so well that they were named 2010
Plant of the Year in a prestigious benchmark competition.
Lear, the first and oldest just-in-time plant for automotive
seat production in Germany, won the award “Global Excellence in Operations“ for supply chain integration and use
of materials.
The third in this group of suppliers is the Brose Group,
operating worldwide from its headquarters in Coburg.
Brose, a supplier of mechatronic systems and electric motors for bodies and interiors, built a production facility for
electric window systems in Bremen in 2013.
Add the Kuka Group, a leading global provider of engineering services and automated manufacturing solutions, with
a site in Bremen. Kuka Systems GmbH develops and builds
production facilities for axle and transmission assembly as
well as for engine and cylinder head assembly. The drive
train and suspension technology specialist ZF Services
operates a centralized logistics center in Bremen with
235 employees serving over 1,200 customers worldwide.
The automated high-bay warehouse holds approximately
17,000 pallet spaces in eight lanes. The number of ZF and
Lemförder Parts Components sent from Bremen all over
the world will increase to around 19,000 in the coming
years.
In-depth logistics know-how is embodied in another company – Schedl Automotive GmbH. Schedl, a tire specialist
and automotive service provider with plants in Germany,
Belgium, the UK, Portugal, The Czech Republic and China,
supplies premium auto manufacturers such as Daimler,
VW and BMW. The Bremen Mercedes plant purchases their
complete wheel assembly from this source.
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The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 7
Automotive Logistics
Handling, Transport, Production Supply
Automobile Handling
Automotive Logistics
Production Logistics
Cars, as far as the eye can see: At the Bremerhaven Car
Terminal there’s storage and parking for approximately
120 000 cars, 45 000 of those covered spaces. With an area
of almost one million square meters or 247 acres, the three
harbors make up the largest auto transport hub in Europe
– with sophisticated logistics, excellent transport links and
comprehensive service.
But – loading and unloading are not the only activities at
the Car Terminal. At the BLG Logistics Group Technical Center, Europe’s largest auto workshop, nearly 500,000 export/
import vehicles are inspected, modified or upgraded every
year. For example, sunroofs, navigation systems, consumer
electronics or leather seats may be installed.
With globalization and the interwoven production networks of the German automotive industry, production logistics has become increasingly important. Parts and components of a vehicle often come from different continents
and are delivered by the suppliers only when needed ( justin-time or just-in-sequence) directly to the assembly line,
often in synch with production processes. This requires
highly efficient interfaces between external logistics and
factory production, such as that provided by the logistics
Clearly, Bremen ports are one of the greatest assets of the
German automotive industry, and through the ports the
industry leaps from one export success to the next. Fifteen
berths are available for car carriers along the five-kilometer
quay. Nowhere else in Europe are more vehicles handled –
in 2013 alone, 2.2 million. And in global comparisons, Bremerhaven plays a leading role, too.
Bremerhaven is an automotive harbor, independent and
export-oriented. From here, European manufacturers ship
their cars to the U.S., East Asia and the Middle East. In addition, vehicles are imported from Southeast Asia production
sites (Japan, Korea) and German manufacturing overseas
(USA).
Another aspect: Bremen‘s ports are a logistics hub for the
entire automotive industry. Parts and kits are sent from
Bremerhaven to assembly sites around the world (vehicleparts logistics). In addition to the BLG Logistics Group, the
leading automotive logistics company in Europe, a dozen
other companies in this sector are active – BWG Reimer,
Ipsen Logistics, PWL, Stute and Weserport.
With their terminal and transportation network, BLG offers
the automotive industry a comprehensive, cross-border
supply chain from factory to dealer; in 2012 they handled
more than seven million vehicles. Their network includes
26 car terminals on coasts and inland waterways; in Europe,
BLG routinely serves more than 7,000 auto dealers with
530 special transporters. In addition, the company has
more than 1,000 of its own railway cars for automobile
transport as well as seven river barges.
center of DB Schenker in Bremen and PCC (Plant Consolidation Center Bremen), operated by Lorel GmbH from the
Hansalinie Industrial Park.
On approximately 57,000 square meters, Schenker bundles
assembly units and components from about 60 suppliers
for the nearby Mercedes-Benz plant. Around 280 people
receive more than 100 truckloads of shipments daily from
suppliers in Germany and Europe and provide intermediate storage for steering wheels, axles, struts and other
components. When the parts are required, the desired
modules are precisely assembled and shipped in order of
assembly. Since 2007, Schenker has increased its plant area
almost sixfold.
At the PCC for Daimler AG, in an area of 50,000 square
meters, production-related parts – headlights, car door
mirrors, floor mats, door handles, pedal systems, steering
wheels, trims, and moldings – from more than 200 different suppliers are stored and selected. Lorel has about 220
employees in the PCC center where over 230 delivery trucks
are processed every day.
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The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 9
Automotive Service Area
Automotive Research
Hansalinie Industrial Park
Electromobile Model Region
53° 1’ 59’’ N, 8° 53’ 1’’ E – the geographic coordinates for one
of the newest and most dynamic commercial areas in Bremen: The Hansalinie Industrial Park, located in the southeast of the Hanseatic city, is heavily oriented toward the
automobile. With its own exit from the A1 Autobahn and
within easy reach of all major modes of transport (road,
rail, water, air), it is strategically located and is tied to all
the larger traffic centers in all of Germany.
Bremen is a center of scientific excellence in northwest
Germany, and that includes automotive research. Situated
near our local universities (University of Bremen, Jacobs
University Bremen, University of Applied Sciences Bremen),
internationally recognized research institutes pioneer work
on technological and process projects. One scientific focus
is environmental impact.
Companies with a primary interest in the automotive industry have settled here. And for good reason: MercedesBenz is only a few kilometers away, allowing synchronized
deliveries for production. Systems or components can be
delivered directly to the factory just-in-time or just-insequence. The industrial park has, among other things,
a complete Mercedes-Benz body production line. There is
still development potential in the area, especially for companies associated with the automotive industry.
Total size 155 hectares (380 acres)
(12.2 hectares or 30 acres available for
construction; 50 hectares or 124 acres
under development)
Companies 75 (3,000 employees)
Infrastructure Hotels, restaurants, vehicle service area,
local public transport link, rail siding
Roads Direct exit/entrance Autobahn (A1)
A27 intersection – 6 km
A28 intersection – 30 km
City Airport Bremen – 5 km
Internal Port / Hemelingen Port – 2 km
Central Train Station – 7 km
This highly specialized research focuses on developing materials solutions and joining technologies, metalworking,
high-performance composite materials and innovative
welding processes as well as production systems and logistics networks. A major theme is systems technology and
construction with new, lightweight and composite materials. ECOmat -The Center for Eco-efficient Materials & Technologies – was established specifically for this purpose.
Considerable attention is being devoted to electric mobility. Since 2009 the Bremen-Oldenburg area has been one
of eight model regions in Germany working on the development of future mobility concepts; here, mobility in rural
areas is the focus. The project coordinators are the German
Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and
Applied Materials Research (IFAM). In our model region, a
fleet of electric vehicles and charging stations are being
tested. An intelligent e-car of the future is being developed
in the EO Smart connecting car. Experts are working on intelligent networked mobility concepts involving all modes
of transport including public transport. The northwest has
a good chance to establish itself not only in electric mobility but as a model region for intelligent mobility.
Scientific Institutes
BIAS Bremen Institute of Applied Beam
Technology GmbH
BIBA Bremen Institute for Production and
Logistics GmbH
DFKI German Research Center for Artificial intelligence
FIBRE Fiber Institute Bremen
IFAM Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology
and Advanced Materials Research
IWT Institute of Materials Engineering Foundation
The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 10
The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 11
Automotive West Association
Industry Platform
Bremen as an automotive center is closely bound to the
northwest region and the metropolitan area of BremenOldenburg. With Mercedes-Benz production in Bremen and
Volkswagen in Emden, northwest Germany has two strong
players in the industry that provide employment and revenue. Approximately 45,000 people work in the automotive
industry in the northwest. The presence of roughly 400
suppliers underscores the critical role of the automotive
industry in the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area.
Almost everything needed for the construction of motor
vehicles is produced close to the front doors of these two
major manufacturing plants. The ports of Bremerhaven
and Emden in turn import and export a significant number
of the German cars. Another focal point of competence is
automotive logistics.
In order to market the region as an automotive center of
excellence with national impact, to promote economic relations, and to create a common communication platform,
the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Bremen and
Oldenburg, along with the northwest German automotive
industry, launched the Network Automotive West Association in September 2007. In this organization, manufac-
turers and suppliers, service providers and researchers can
network with ease. The association currently has 78 members, including the Mercedes-Benz Plant Bremen, Hella Vehicle Components GmbH, BLG Logistics Group and many
other well-known companies.
Automotive Northwest supports the exchange of experience and information between its members and other
stakeholders with exhibits, workshops and cross-industry
transfer of knowledge. Important concerns include attracting skilled workers and managers and the creation
of partnerships. Automotive Northwest is funded by the
Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area in northwest Germany (Bremen and Lower Saxony) as well as with funds
from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The State of Bremen: Leader in Automobile Production | 12
IMPRINT
Published by:
WFB Wirtschaftsförderung
Bremen GmbH
Kontorhaus am Markt
Langenstraße 2–4
(entrance at Stintbrücke 1)
D-28195 Bremen
Outlook
T +49 (0) 421.9600-10
F +49 (0) 421.9600-810
mail@wfb-bremen.de
www.bremen-invest.com
Bremeninvest is a brand of
WFB Wirtschaftsförderung
Bremen GmbH
The automotive industry is and will remain one of the most
important sectors of the economy. In 2012 German car
manufacturers produced approximately 5.4 million cars
in country, and 7.7 million new cars abroad. Their production networks are global and interconnected. Because of
Mercedes, Bremen is home to one of the most prominent
automobile brands in the world.
Daimler has reconfigured its production program in view of
the changing market. The Bremen plant is heading global
production of the C Class in four factories: in Asia, Africa,
North America and Germany. Bremen is the global hub of
the Mercedes C Class world. This will in turn influence the
dynamic supplier industry here, which has grown steadily in recent years and expects good growth in the coming
years. Eyes are focused now on the emerging markets in
the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Consequently, Bremerhaven has become increasingly strong
as an export harbor while car imports have gradually fallen.
Asian manufacturers have set up production in eastern
Europe and supply west European markets from there
using the BLG transport network. BLG is already present in
large parts of eastern Europe with car terminals and transportation services. And China is high on the agenda, too.
BLG wants to build technology centers for automobiles at
Chinese ports and is responsible for auto parts logistics for
the Mercedes passenger car plant in Beijing. In the future,
Asian vehicles will be transported to the west from the
Pacific ports in Vladivostok on the Trans-Siberian railway.
As a model region for electric mobility, Bremen is also focused on the development of alternative drive systems as
well as lightweight materials since lighter vehicles consume less energy and thereby conserve resources.
Design:
WFB & b.sticht, Bremen
Text:
Dr. Christine Backhaus,
Press Spokesperson
Photos:
Mercedes-Benz, BLG, WFB,
Ingo Wagner, Terra Air Services,
Jens Lehmkühler, LEAR, “K” Line,
iStockphoto, fotolia
Producer:
Christina Lolk, WFB
Printer:
BerlinDruck, Achim
This brochure does not claim to
be exhaustive, but reflects the
diversity of the automotive industry
in Bremen.
State of Information:
August 2013
WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH
Kontorhaus am Markt
Langenstraße 2–4
(entrance at Stintbrücke 1)
D-28195 Bremen
T +49 (0) 421.9600-10
F +49 (0) 421.9600-810
www.bremen-invest.com
Bremeninvest is a brand of WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH