German investments in Poland – Bosch, Miele, and Knorr-Bremse move production to Poland

An increasing number of German companies are recognizing the potential of investing in Poland by relocating production and expanding operations in the country. The main reasons for this decision are rising labour and energy costs in Germany, as well as increasingly complex bureaucracy. Poland is becoming an attractive destination not only due to lower operational costs but also because of its stable economic conditions, modern infrastructure, and simplified administration. Investing in Poland offers a real opportunity for business optimization, which is attracting foreign entrepreneurs who choose to register a company in Poland, taking advantage of favourable business conditions. Examples from renowned companies such as Knorr-Bremse, Miele, and Bosch confirm that Poland is becoming a key location for the German industry, with the relocation trend gaining momentum.

Knorr-Bremse moves production from Saxony to Poland

The brake system manufacturer Knorr-Bremse has announced that two-thirds of the production from its plant in Dresden will be relocated to Poland. As a result of this decision, more than 40 jobs in Germany will be cut. The move is driven by competitive pressure and the desire to reduce operational costs.

The company has not disclosed which specific city in Poland will host the production, but this is not an isolated case—more and more German companies are opting for a similar move.

Employees at the Dresden plant have expressed opposition to this decision, but Knorr-Bremse believes the relocation will reduce costs while maintaining high product quality.

Miele moves washing machine assembly to Poland

Another example is Miele, a renowned manufacturer of household appliances, which has decided to gradually move washing machine assembly from Gütersloh, Germany, to a factory in Ksawerów near Łódź. This process will continue until 2027 and aims to optimize costs and streamline production processes.

Rebecca Steinhage, Miele’s board member, emphasized that Poland attracts investors not only with lower labour costs but also with a more efficient administration and a business-friendly environment. She mentioned, for example, that the company was able to obtain permission to install solar panels on the factory’s roof in Poland much more quickly than in Germany.

Bosch invests 1.2 billion Euros in a new factory in Lower Silesia

It’s not only existing plants that are moving production to Poland. German tech giant Bosch has decided to build a new heat pump factory in Dobromierz, Lower Silesia. This is one of the largest German investments in Poland, with the company allocating 1.2 billion euros for the project.

The plant will be located on a 48-hectare plot near the DK5 and DK34 roads, with the first devices expected to leave the factory by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Initially, around 500 people will be employed at the plant, but Bosch plans to increase the number of employees to as many as 1,000.

The company chose to build the new plant in Poland due to the rising demand for heat pumps, which are a key element in Europe’s energy transition. In 2022, global sales of these devices rose by 54%. In Europe, there is a steady annual growth rate of around 20%, and by 2030, around 30 million heat pumps are expected to be installed across EU countries. “We expect growth in this dynamic environment to be exceptionally high, and we have set ourselves the goal of growing much faster than the market. […] The new plant in Poland will help us achieve these goals,” says Jan Brockmann, President of Bosch Home Comfort Group.

Poland – a strategic choice for German companies

The decisions of Knorr-Bremse, Miele, and Bosch are part of a broader trend of relocating German production to Poland. According to a study by KPMG and the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, 22% of German companies are considering moving production to Central and Eastern Europe, with 51% of them selecting Poland as their preferred destination.

Learn more about the survey conducted by KPMG and the Eastern Committee of the German Economy: German companies are increasingly eager to invest in Poland.

What attracts German companies to Poland?

• Availability of skilled labor – a key factor for 37% of surveyed companies
• More efficient administration and shorter permit approval times
• Lower production costs and competitive business conditions
• Good infrastructure and central location in Europe

German companies are not moving to Poland solely due to lower labour costs. Economic stability, access to specialists, and Poland’s growing position as a manufacturing hub in Europe are also key factors.

More and more foreign investors are realizing that investing in Poland is not just a cheaper alternative, but a strategic decision that offers stability and growth potential for the future. With specialized services, such as those offered by getsix®, which include professional support at every stage of the company registration in Poland, accounting, HR, and legal and tax advisory, entrepreneurs can be confident that their investments in Poland will be well-supported. This trend is expected to continue, with more German companies deciding to expand their operations in Poland.

If you have any further questions or require additional information, please contact your business relationship person or use the enquiry form on the HLB Poland website.

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