Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA CEO, Andreas Brand, has led the South African arm of the German automaker since 2022, and will officially resign on 31 May 2026 as he transitions to a new global position within Mercedes-Benz AG.
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Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has announced that its CEO, Andreas Brand, will step down from his role at the end of May, marking the end of a significant leadership chapter for the company’s local operations.
Brand, who has led the South African arm of the German automaker since 2022, will officially resign on 31 May 2026 as he transitions to a new global position within Mercedes-Benz AG. He is set to take up the role of head of supply chain management for Global Customer Services and Parts (GCSP) in Stuttgart, Germany.
Brand’s departure comes at a time when the automotive industry continues to evolve rapidly, with increasing focus on electrification, digitalisation, and resilient supply chains. His new role in global supply chain management is expected to place him at the centre of these strategic shifts within Mercedes-Benz.
The leadership change comes as part of the broader global mobility of senior executives within Mercedes-Benz, with the company yet to announce Brand’s successor in South Africa.
Brand’s career with Mercedes-Benz spans nearly three decades, having joined the group in 1997 in Rastatt, Germany. Over the years, he held several key roles across production, planning, and engineering, gaining extensive international experience in both established and newly launched manufacturing operations.
One of his early milestones included overseeing the press shop and body shop operations during the construction and launch of the Kecskemét plant in Hungary, a project that contributed to the automaker’s global production footprint.
He later took on leadership of the “painted body” division at Factory One in Sindelfingen, followed by a role as chief engineer production for the Global Compact Car Platform.
Brand also played a critical role in integrated programme planning, where he navigated complex challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic and the global semiconductor shortage—two events that disrupted automotive supply chains worldwide.
His appointment as CEO and executive director for manufacturing at Mercedes-Benz South Africa in 2022 marked a return to a market of strategic importance for the group.
During his tenure, Brand focused on strengthening the East London manufacturing plant’s position within the global Mercedes-Benz production network. The East London facility, a cornerstone of the company’s African operations, is a key production hub for the globally popular C-Class model.
Under Brand’s leadership, the plant maintained its reputation for manufacturing excellence and continued to deliver strong operational performance, reinforcing its status as an award-winning facility.
In December 2025, Brand expanded his responsibilities by taking on the additional role of head of CKD (Completely Knocked Down) and Mid Volume Production, further integrating South Africa’s operations into the company’s global manufacturing strategy.
Wilfried Porth, chairman of the MBSA board, praised Brand’s leadership and contribution to the organisation.
“Under his guidance, MBSA Limited maintained strong strategic continuity, safeguarded operational stability, and strengthened its competitiveness within the global production network and premium vehicle market,” Porth said.
He added that Brand’s efforts were instrumental in reinforcing the East London plant’s role as a world-class manufacturing site and a key asset in the global C-Class value chain.
Mercedes-Benz builds the C-Class at the East London plant and previously exported the vehicles to the United States duty-free under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
Last year, Mercedes-Benz South Africa halted operations at its East London manufacturing plant for the entire month of July.
This was a move thought to be connected to escalating trade tensions initiated by US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on automotive imports, though the company insisted this was “standard procedure” and typical maintenance scheduling.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa is reportedly in discussions with Great Wall Motors (GWM) to co-manufacture vehicles at its East London assembly plant, a potential lifeline that could help keep the factory open.
For the South African operation, the transition marks both an end and a new beginning. While the company has yet to name a successor, it reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strategic excellence and leadership in the premium vehicle market.
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