■Mergers & Acquisition within the German Mercedes retail network 2024!
Dr. Martin Achter »kfz-betrieb« Translation AutoNews24
■ Many dealerships changed ownership over the year – or buyers and previous owners announced plans to sell in 2025. The deals took place in various brand worlds. There were also two significant deals by foreign investors.
■ Market consolidation continued in 2024, with various groups making or announcing takeovers, particularly within Volkswagen Group brands and Mercedes-Benz (MB) sales and service networks. The publication 'kfz-betrieb' has assessed these market developments based on company announcements. Their analysis reveals that the volume of related deals in 2024 has increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year, with a notable number of takeover or sale announcements coming from the Mercedes-Benz network.
■ Mercedes-Benz has announced that, following a wave of sales in 2015, it now intends to sell all or part of approximately 80 remaining branches across Germany, which employ around 8,000 people. The manufacturer plans to evaluate the sales company-by-company basis, carefully considering potential buyers instead of selling all branches as a single package to one investor. Some individual trading groups from the Mercedes-Benz network have already expressed interest in acquiring these branches. By 2025, there may be more clarity regarding the chosen buyers. However, it remains uncertain if the manufacturer has reached an agreement with employee representatives regarding these sales.
■ Mercedes-Benz wants to sell more branches
Foreign investors could also strengthen their presence in Germany by selling the Mercedes branches. Two market players from other countries are doing this with takeovers in the group-independent trade. The Dutch car dealership chain Van Mossel announced a mega deal this year with the purchase of Nord-Ostee Automobile, which has 38 locations and 1,800 employees. This could be completed in January 2025 and the second major deal in Germany after the takeover of the traditional Ford dealer Hugo Pfohe in 2023.
The Swiss Merbag Group will expand its presence in Germany in April 2025 by purchasing the KBM Group from Neuwied. The company has been active in Germany since 2022.
■ There have been and continue to be numerous other transactions in the MB network. In April, fahrzeug-Werke Lueg expanded its activities to include the service partner Sahm's business in Ratingen. From February 2025, the service partner Frank Wagner in Heiligenhaus will be part of the group.
In July, the Herbrand Group expanded its range of activities on the Lower Rhine. Since then, the Spielvogel car dealership in Bergheim-Zieverich has belonged to the company. The Bortenlänger car dealership in Wesel will be part of Mercedes Köpper in Dorsten from 2025.
■ Köpper takes over Bortenlänger
■ The Senger Group and the Mercedes dealer Neils & Kraft jointly took over the Nord car dealership in Marburg on July 1st. The car and van business went to Senger, and the heavy truck business went to Neils & Kraft.
■ The Kestenholz Group from Switzerland is acquiring the Johann Wedig car dealership in Frankenthal, Rhineland-Palatinate. Further south, the representative Praunsmändtl from Ingolstadt will join forces with Wüst & Weigand in Weißenburg from 2025. Praunsmändtl will, therefore, grow to ten locations with 550 employees.
■ Praunsmändtl takes over Wüst & Weigand
At the beginning of 2025, two Mercedes-Benz representatives in Middle Franconia and Upper Bavaria will merge: Praunsmändtl from Ingolstadt will take over the five Wüst & Weigand companies, expanding the brand portfolio.
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