The Esslingen MBA has alumni in management positions in many of the leading Germany companies. Are there other MBAs in Germany with a similar qualification that are practically tuition-free?

Are you looking for something specifically in Germany? If so an internationally accredited program will most likely be better for you than that one. Check out the following to get started:

WHU
EBS Business School
ESMT European School of Management and Technology
Mannheim

Esslingen gives you good access to entry level roles in the industrial firms in south-west Germany, many of which trade internationally. National and international recruiters will not target it. Why. It do an MSc in manufacturing management at a university rather than an MBA at a small Fachhochschule?

The MIP MBA equips you with good skills to work in an industrial management role. I also know that their careers services help a lot if you let them know what your specifications are. I recently read about an MIP MBA grad who now works as Operational Excellence Professional at Italian food manufacturer Barilla, a role he secured after doing his MBA project work with the firm.

The other MBAs that you mention are pretty expensive. I think I'll apply to Esslingen. It is internationally accredited, and the tuition is really low, and from what I have read a lot of the alumni are very successful.
Thanks, Finya

"internationally accredited"? In both Germany and Austria, by FIBAA. But elsewhere?

Dear Duncan,
That's a good point unless one is particularly targeting international jobs but otherwise I guess once you get a job in the local (German) market, things should go along well.

Well, the top German schools serve the German market but they are internationally accredited: it's a higher quality level, and employers know that.