Alstom has signed an agreement with KNDS Deutschland to sell its plant in Görlitz, Germany, which will be transformed into a production site for defence vehicles.
The agreement, signed today, guarantees job continuity for between 350 and 400 of the current 700 employees, while another 100 can transfer to other Alstom plants.
Bombardier Transportation owned the Görlitz plant, which the French manufacturer took over after the acquisition closed in 2021. Last summer, it announced the sale of the plant. Its production, mainly of double-decker trains and trams, will be split between the factories in Katowice and Wrocław, Poland.
KNDS plans to manufacture components for LEOPARD 2 tanks, PUMA combat vehicles and BOXER armoured vehicles. The transition will be completed in 2027, ensuring a stable future for the region.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer have praised the deal for its positive impact on jobs and the local economy. The plant currently produces rail cars and will shift its focus to defence manufacturing, marking an important milestone in the region’s industry.