Last vehicle rolls out of the hall at Alstom in Görlitz

The French rail vehicle manufacturer Alstom has ended its production in Görlitz. On Tuesday afternoon, the last vehicle rolled out of the assembly hall - a double-decker carriage that is to be delivered to Israel. Since the site was founded 176 years ago, more than 107,000 wagons have been manufactured.

France will continue to play a role at the site in the future, however. The Franco-German armaments group KNDS is taking over the plant and intends to produce components for tanks here in the future.

Employees look back on the history of the plant with pride

According to the head of the works council, René Straube, the employees look back on the plant with pride. Görlitz had significantly influenced developments in the industry. Until the mid-noughties, every double-decker coach in Germany came from Görlitz. "It was a cool feeling for all of us when we drove through Germany." The fact that we can look to the future is reassuring. Something new is being created here that will provide many people with a job.

According to site manager Jens Koep, the halls will be cleared by the end of March 2026 and prepared for the start of KNDS production. The employees had identified with wagon construction. All employees will now experience a huge change. "Change is, of course, the thing that scares people the most."

What future for Alstom employees?

In May, KNDS announced that it would take on 350 to 400 employees from Görlitz. Most recently, around 700 people were still employed at the plant. According to the company, 170 colleagues have moved to the Alstom plant in Bautzen. A good 60 have so far been taken on by KNDS. However, works council member Straube expects that there will also be "wet eyes". Many colleagues are only now realizing the end of wagon construction.

In Görlitz, assemblies for the Leopard 2 main battle tank and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle as well as modules for the Boxer wheeled armoured vehicle are to be manufactured from now on. In 2027, preparations are to be made for the series production of armored hulls, which is expected to begin the following year. Armaments for the Wehrmacht were already manufactured in Görlitz wagon construction in the 1930s, including radio and infantry fighting vehicles, MG wagons and tank superstructures.