Daimler Truck Announces Succession Plan for Strategic Mannheim Engine and Battery Site

Personelle Veränderung bei Daimler Truck: Mercedes-Benz Werk Mannheim unter neuer Leitung, Gerald Tropper
Personnel change at Daimler Truck: Mercedes‑Benz plant Mannheim under new leadership, Gerald Tropper

(IN BRIEF) Daimler Truck has announced that Gerald Tropper will become Head of the Mannheim plant on 1 July 2026, succeeding Andreas Moch, who will leave the company at the end of July after more than 33 years, including 13 years leading the site. Tropper, currently Head of Corporate Audit, will take charge of a facility that is both a major engine production centre and a key hub for battery and high-voltage technologies, while Moch is credited with strengthening the plant’s competitiveness and advancing its electrification capabilities. The transition reflects Daimler Truck’s ongoing focus on balancing traditional powertrain excellence with the strategic development of its electrified product portfolio at one of its most important German manufacturing sites.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN/MANNHHEIM, 7-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Daimler Truck has announced a leadership transition at its Mannheim plant, with Gerald Tropper set to take over site management on 1 July 2026, as long-standing plant head Andreas Moch prepares to leave the company after more than three decades of service. The change reflects a planned succession at one of Daimler Truck’s most strategically important production sites for engines, battery technologies, and high-voltage systems.

Tropper, currently Head of Corporate Audit at Daimler Truck, will assume responsibility for the Mannheim plant, which serves as both an engine manufacturing hub and a centre of competence for electrified powertrain technologies. His appointment underscores the company’s focus on combining operational excellence with strategic oversight as it continues to balance conventional powertrain production with the expansion of its electrified portfolio.

Andreas Moch, who has led the Mannheim site for 13 years, will depart at the end of July 2026 at his own request. Over his tenure, he has overseen significant structural and technological developments at the plant, strengthening its role within Daimler Truck’s global manufacturing network and positioning it as a key contributor to the company’s electrification strategy.

Yaris Pürsün, Head of Global Powersystems Operations at Daimler Truck, expressed gratitude for Moch’s contributions, highlighting his impact on both the operational performance and cultural development of the Mannheim site. He credited Moch with securing the long-term competitiveness of engine production while simultaneously transforming the plant into a high-performance centre for battery and high-voltage technologies.

Pürsün also welcomed Tropper to the role, emphasising his strategic mindset and international experience as key assets for leading the plant through its next phase of development. He noted that Tropper’s background in finance, audit, and international management equips him well to guide Mannheim’s continued evolution within Daimler Truck’s powertrain organisation.

Background on Andreas Moch

Moch began his career at Daimler AG in 1993 through the company’s international junior staff programme. He subsequently held a series of roles at the Gaggenau and Untertürkheim plants before becoming Managing Director of L’Orange GmbH in 2001, a subsidiary specialising in injection systems for large diesel engines. Between 2005 and 2009, he led key product areas at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Gaggenau before taking responsibility for parts logistics in Europe, including the Global Logistics Center. In 2013, he was appointed head of the Mannheim plant, overseeing engine production, the Mannheim and South African foundries, and global sales of powertrain components.

Background on Gerald Tropper

Tropper began his professional journey in 1993 with an apprenticeship as an automotive mechanic at the Mercedes-Benz branch in Munich. After completing a degree in industrial engineering, he returned to Daimler AG in 2003, holding roles across aftersales, human resources, and corporate audit. In 2014, he relocated to Beijing to lead Corporate Audit for Greater China, later serving as Head of Finance & Controlling and CFO of Daimler Truck China Ltd. He subsequently became Commercial Director and Co-CFO at the Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive joint venture before assuming his current position as Head of Corporate Audit at Daimler Truck in 2023.

About the Mercedes-Benz plant Mannheim

Founded in 1908 in Mannheim-Waldhof, the plant employs more than 4,600 people and produces engines and related components for commercial vehicles. It also functions as Daimler Truck’s centre of competence for battery and high-voltage systems, playing a crucial role in the series production of electrified drivetrains. The Battery Technology Center houses a pilot line for prototype battery cell production, enabling development teams to test new assembly concepts and battery pack systems.

The plant’s foundry ranks among the world’s leading producers of iron vehicle castings, while its engine reconditioning centre serves as Europe’s main facility for refurbishing engines for both commercial vehicles and passenger cars. The Mannheim site also has a long tradition of vocational training, having trained more than 11,000 young professionals over the past century.

Media Contacts:

Dorothea Freiberg
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Trucks Plants Gaggenau, Kassel and Mannheim
dorothea.freiberg​@daimlertruck.com
+49 160 8669616

Peter Smodej
Head of Communications Product & Corporate Mercedes-Benz Trucks / Daimler Buses
peter.smodej​@daimlertruck.com
+49 176 30936446

SOURCE: Daimler Truck