APRIL 9, 2009

A sign of the times

Karmann, the German car parts supplier and contract manufacturer, has filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of the current economic crisis which has led to the cancellation of several projects.

Karmann, the German car parts supplier and contract manufacturer, has filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of the current economic crisis which has led to the cancellation of several projects. The company is the first major victim of the global crisis in Germany. The company, best known for its elegant Karmann Ghia sports car, which was produced using a Volkswagen chassis between 1955 and 1974, has since supplied parts to the big manufacturers. In recent years it has been involved with the production of roof elements for convertible models from Audi, Bentley, BMW, Nissan, Renault, VW Pontiac and Chrysler. It has also produced Mercedes-Benz SLK and Spyker C8 chassis.