Shock for Nauen: BSH closes washing machine factory – 440 jobs at risk!

Shock for Nauen: BSH closes washing machine factory – 440 jobs at risk!

In Nauen, a town in Havelland, there is great concern because Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (BSH) has announced the closure of its washing machine production plant. This decision was made public on October 10, 2025 and affects around 440 employees, while the complete phase-out of production is scheduled for mid-2027. District Administrator Roger Lewandowski (CDU) described this announcement as a “shock” and expressed great concern about the impact on local suppliers and on city finances as a whole.

The reasons for the closure are varied: a persistently declining market development, stagnating real estate markets, changing consumer purchasing behavior and increased demand for cheaper devices are driving BSH's decision. Global economic pressures, including U.S. tariff policies, also contribute to this uncertain environment. In the first half of 2025, 76,000 jobs had already been lost across the entire metal and electrical industry, underlining the dramatic situation in the sector. A real job clear-cutting can be observed, which does not leave Nauen untouched.

Impact on the region

BSH is one of the largest employers in the region and employs around 500 people at its Nauen location. Over the last few years, over 20 million appliances have been shipped from the city and around 600,000 washing machines have been manufactured annually, 75 percent of which have been exported. The job losses at BSH are therefore directly linked to the economic challenges the industry is experiencing. Along with the closure in Nauen, around 980 jobs at the Bretten site will also be affected, where production of stoves and extractor hoods will be gradually phased out by 2028.

The industry has been experiencing a dramatic decline for years, which is reflected in an increasing number of job cuts. According to the employers' association Gesamtmetall, companies in the metal and electrical industries suffer immense costs due to energy prices, taxes and bureaucracy. Only 6 percent of companies expect economic normalization by 2025. Overall, concerns about job losses are among the region's most pressing concerns.

Social responsibility and support

BSH has requested the support of IG Metall and emphasized that it would like to look for socially acceptable solutions for the affected employees. Michael Wiebersinsky, the future mayor of Nauen, expressed his regret about the lack of discussions before the decision and sees the loss for the city as enormous. The municipal council of Schönwalde-Glien agrees with this view and has called on the state government to work to preserve the site.

However, District Administrator Lewandowski assumes that the process is irreversible and does not expect BSH to change its mind because, in his opinion, the decision was made at a higher level. The closure of the plant is therefore seen not only as a loss of jobs, but also as a setback for the city's financial stability.

The coming months will be crucial as we negotiate socially responsible solutions for employees and community support remains important. Given the current economic situation, the recovery in the region is a challenge that requires everyone involved.

Further information on this development can be found in the reports from rbb24, Märkische General and n-tv.