Germany: Compleo reportedly preparing major job cuts

According to German news portal come-on.de, Compleo Charging Solutions GmbH & Co. KG plans to cut around 20 per cent of its workforce and close its production sites in Dortmund-Wickede and Dortmund-Wambel. The report says this would affect about 60 jobs, mainly in production, but also in the headquarters in Dortmund-Dorstfeld, which could become the company’s only remaining site in the city. Compleo’s international locations, which focus on sales, are also expected to “contribute to consolidation.”

Management had reportedly already tried to reduce staff numbers through voluntary programmes, apparently without the desired effect. Talks over a social plan are said to be pending. Compleo may also scale back its charging station business as part of a strategic realignment and focus instead on the future area of bidirectional charging.

Compleo has confirmed its plans to electrive in principle but did not provide any figures. “Like any company that operates responsibly and sustainably, Compleo regularly reviews its cost structures to remain competitive and secure its future. In view of the current market situation, we are currently holding discussions with our works council regarding a necessary reduction in staff,” a spokesperson said. “We will always share the progress of these consultations with our employees first.” The aim is to conduct the process “as socially responsible as possible.”

However, the end of production at the Wickede and Wambel sites has been confirmed. “In view of Compleo’s current strategic realignment, it is correct that the production sites in Wickede and Wambel will be closed,” the spokesperson continued. “Production will in future be fully relocated to existing Kostal Group sites. Once concrete decisions on the future production structure have been made, we will of course communicate them.”

After financing talks failed, the manufacturer filed for debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings in December 2022. Jörg Lohr, CEO at the time, and the board opted for this step to maintain operations. Kostal quickly emerged as a potential investor and announced the takeover in May 2023. Integration into the new owner’s structures progressed, and by June 2024, all charging software activities had been consolidated under the Vaylens brand.

In February 2025, it became known that Lohr, who had led both Compleo and Vaylens, would leave the Kostal Group and hand management over to Kostal manager Björn Dietrich. He announced plans to align the competencies of Compleo, Vaylens and Kostal more closely. Dietrich is understood to remain responsible for Compleo and Vaylens.

According to come-on.de, there has been a key change on the Kostal side: “The situation at Compleo is serious. One indication is that Andreas Kostal, Managing Partner of Kostal Holding, has now made Kostal Energy Solutions, one of the group’s key future areas, his direct responsibility and has also taken charge of operational management. It is understood that Andreas Kostal has assumed leadership of Kostal Industrie Elektrik, Compleo and Vaylens (charging software) as of this week.” The report states that former managing director Gregor Schmeken has been relieved of these duties and will now focus more on strategic alignment within the holding company.

Compleo does not directly confirm this point when asked. “Responsibility for Compleo’s operational business remains with Dr Björn Dietrich as CEO,” the spokesperson says. “Beyond that, we do not comment on internal personnel or departmental decisions, or on restructuring within the Kostal Group. We ask for your understanding.”

come-on.de (in German)

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.