Sindelfingen production head Sara Gielen takes over from Elke Pusskeiler, who leaves the company on 31 January 2027.
Mercedes-Benz has appointed Sara Gielen Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Operations, effective 1 December 2026. She is currently Head of Production and Site at the Sindelfingen plant, and she takes over from Elke Pusskeiler, who has spent more than 35 years with the Group and leaves on 31 January 2027.
Sara Gielen will lead Mercedes-Benz Vans Operations from 1 December 2026, with responsibility for all production-related work, covering manufacturing, engineering, logistics and quality. She takes over from Elke Pusskeiler, whose departure on 31 January 2027 was agreed by both sides for personal reasons.
Gielen is currently Head of Production and Site at the Sindelfingen plant, where she is shaping the future production organisation. Her work there also includes the start of production for the new S-Class and preparations for the ramp-up of future all-electric Mercedes-AMG models.
Gielen joined Mercedes-Benz AG in mid-2024. Before that she held a series of management posts in the automotive industry over more than 20 years.
Pusskeiler's long tenure
Pusskeiler has been part of Mercedes-Benz for more than three decades, and the company credits her with major contributions across many areas. At Mercedes-Benz Vans she moved the global production organisation forward and put the production network in a stronger position for the future. One milestone from her time there was VLE production getting under way at the Vitoria plant.
Thomas Klein, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said Gielen brings international production experience and a record of handling complex transformations in demanding roles. He thanked Pusskeiler for her work and wished her well for the next chapter of her life.
The company expects her to have a major hand in how its global Vans production network develops next.
Where the vans are built
Vans output comes from plants in Germany, Spain, Poland and the United States, with cooperation partners building in China as well. The brand says it has been supplying transport solutions for 130 years, starting with the first Benz delivery van and running through Sprinter and Vito to the electric VLE, which is built on the newer van architecture.
The Vans range spans both electric and conventionally powered models, which the company says covers a wide spread of customer requirements. Customers can buy directly from the factory or through certified bodybuilders, and the company points to its service centres, financial services and charging offers as part of the package. Beyond the vehicles, the brand lists reliability, quality, comfort, digital connectivity and safety among its core promises, alongside advice before and after purchase.
