Sterne Group takes over Mercedes-Benz in Ulm: jobs secured!

Sterne Group takes over Mercedes-Benz in Ulm: jobs secured!

Today, December 1, 2025, the Sterne Group is taking a big step in the automotive industry by taking over the Mercedes-Benz branch in Ulm/Neu-Ulm. This acquisition, announced in July 2025, is part of a strategic realignment aimed at establishing one of the strongest regional Mercedes-Benz partners in Germany. The group emerged from the car dealerships Abel+Ruf GmbH and KreuterMedeleSchäfer GmbH & Co. KG and aims to combine its strengths in the areas of quality, customer satisfaction and employee loyalty. The managing directors Peter Schäfer, Lukas Ruf and Joachim Fellner have set themselves the ambitious goal of creating a financially strong and future-oriented company.

The Sterne Group looks to the future with optimism because the takeover not only secures long-term market development in the region, but also the preservation of jobs. Over 1,400 employees, including 280 trainees, will continue to be part of the company. This provides stability for employees while the group plans to further strengthen its regional presence through this acquisition. Tobias Just, Chairman of the Management Board of the Württemberg branch network, highlights the Sterne Group's experience and welcomes the decision.

Background to the takeover

The sale of the Mercedes-Benz branch in Ulm/Neu-Ulm is part of a major restructuring at Mercedes-Benz. The automaker recently began selling its own branches in Germany to external partners to focus on its core brand, a luxury strategy and digital direct sales. These changes are part of a trend in which many car manufacturers are rethinking their brick-and-mortar sales structures in order to become more agile and profitable. Locations such as Dortmund and Neu-Ulm are particularly affected, while other branches are also for sale. However, Mercedes-Benz itself has not published any information on purchase prices or further schedules.

The transition to a new operator should go smoothly for customers: vehicles, services and guarantees remain unchanged. In addition, the previously known contact persons should be retained in the new structures. The new trading partners must adhere to the same high quality standards as those set for the Mercedes-Benz brand. However, employees are showing skepticism because their employment relationships are being transferred to the new operators and questions are being raised about co-determination and collective bargaining agreements.

The star group in numbers

With this takeover, the Sterne Group will serve 15 locations in a market area of ​​around 10,000 square kilometers. This expansion brings with it a wide range of vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, smart, Ford, Tremonia and Fuso brands. The company's annual sales in 2024 were an impressive over 800 million euros, which underlines the economic strength and influence of the Sterne Group in the automotive industry. The takeover is a strategic step to ensure competitiveness in a rapidly changing industry.

With this realignment in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, the Sternen Group could have a good hand in implementing its goals. We can only hope that the positive trend continues for everyone involved and that the Mercedes-Benz brand remains highly popular.

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