Karmann

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For Karman, see Kármán (disambiguation). For Volkswagen car, see Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

Coordinates: 52°15′57″N 8°4′40″E / 52.26583°N 8.07778°E / 52.26583; 8.07778 (Karmann-Werk, Osnabrück)

Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
Type GmbH -
(public limited company)
Industry Automotive industry
Founded 1901 (1901)
Headquarters Osnabrück, Germany
Number of locations Osnabrück, Germany;
Rheine, Germany;
Bissendorf Germany;
São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
Area served Worldwide
Key people Jobst Wellensiek
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Products convertible automobiles;
niche vehicles;
convertible roof components
Services Automotive design;
research and development
Divisions Automotive Global Service GmbH, Osnabrueck;
Karmann Engineering-Services GmbH, Bissendorf;
Karmann-Rheine GmbH & Co. KG, Rheine;
Karmann Rheine – Verwaltungs GmbH, Rheine
Karmann-Ghia Żary – Roof Systems, Żary, Poland
Karmann buildings in Osnabrück

Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, commonly known simply as Karmann, in Osnabrück, Germany, was until 2009 the largest independent motor vehicle manufacturing company in Germany. For more than a century, they have undertaken various roles, from design to production and assembly of components, for various automobile manufacturers; including Chrysler, Porsche and Volkswagen Group.

Origin

The company was established in 1901, when Wilhelm Karmann purchased Klases, a coachbuilder since 1874, and renamed the business.[1] The company then grew together with the expanding automobile industry.[1]

Notable programmes

Some of the most well known cars produced by Karmann in the 20th century are the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet (1949–1980), and, most closely associated with the Karmann name, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Between 1955 and 1974, a total of 443,482 VW Karmann Ghias were manufactured, placing their own sports car-style body on the chassis of the Volkswagen Beetle. Later in the 20th century, they assembled the Scirocco, Corrado, and Golf Cabriolet for Volkswagen. Karmann also built the Ford Sierra for the American market, sold under the Merkur brand by Lincoln/Mercury dealers. Many Karmann produced vehicles carry a small wagon wheel emblem, the coat of arms of Osnabrück, where the company was founded.

Karmann assembled complete knock down (CKD) kits in an agreement with American Motors (AMC).[2] In 1968, AMC introduced the Javelin, a new competitor in the U.S. "pony car" segment. AMC did not have a manufacturing subsidiary in Europe, therefore, Karmann assembled the American-designed car for distribution in Europe.[3] Karmann built the cars in Rheine with 280 horsepower (209 kW) 343 cu in (5.6 L) V8 engines and they were named "Javelin 79-K".[4]

Karmann is best known for its work on convertibles/cabriolets. It provides roof-components for many cabriolet automobiles, such as the Mercedes-Benz CLK, the Renault Mégane CC, and the Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet.

Both the headquarters in Osnabrück, and the additional facility in Rheine also construct complete vehicles, such as the former Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, the former Audi A4 Cabriolet, the Mercedes-Benz CLK, and the Chrysler Crossfire. A small number of vehicles are also produced in Brazil São Bernardo do Campo. The Osnabrück facility also produces the chassis and body panels of the Spyker C8 Spyder.

Other facilities at Sunderland UK, Puebla Mexico, and Plymouth Township U.S. manufacture roof systems for the Nissan Micra C+C, Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet, and Pontiac G6, respectively.

It is one of the only plants that built cars for the second and third-largest North American automakers Ford (along with its now-defunct Merkur luxury brand) and Chrysler.

A large part of the development of the Chrysler Crossfire was done independently by Karmann, and the vehicle was produced at their Osnabrück facility. Karmann U.S. also supplied the top for the third-generation Chrysler Sebring (convertible) and Ford Mustang Convertible.

Karmann total car production

"Javelin/U.S.A. Montage/Karmann" on the cover of a 10-page brochure (multi-language) showing the American car
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34 (1961–1966)

Since its beginning in 1901, Karmann has built more than three million complete vehicles of the models as follows,[citation needed] exceptions as indicated:

car make / typeyearsnumber of carscomments
AMC Javelin Coupé1968300
Audi 80 Convertible1997–200012,112
Audi A4 Cabriolet & Audi S4 Cabriolet2002–200881,959base: end 2004
BMW 2000 C/CS1965–197013,696only body in white
BMW 3.0 CS1971–197521,147
BMW 635 CSI1976–198986,314
Chrysler Crossfire Coupé2003–200837,896
Chrysler Crossfire Convertible2003–200816,269
Ford Escort FEC Convertible1983–1990104,237
Ford Escort Convertible1990–199780,620
Ford Escort RS Cosworth1992–19968,082
Merkur XR4Ti1985-198942,000U.S. version of the Ford Sierra XR4i
Land Rover Defender2002–20052,777in Brazil
Mercedes CLK A208 Convertible1998–2003115,264
Mercedes CLK C208 Coupé2000–200228,706
Mercedes CLK A209 Convertible2003–2008
Nissan Micra C+C2006-2010
Porsche 356
Porsche 9111966–1971 911, 911T, and 911E coupes only
Porsche 9121966–1969 coupe only
Porsche 9141969–1976118,949
Porsche 9681991–199411,803only Body in White
Renault 19 Convertible1990–199629,222Body in White and soft tops
Renault Mégane I Convertible1996–200374,096body in white and soft tops
Renault Mégane CC2004-2010 only retractable hardtops
Triumph TR61969–1976
Volkswagen Beetle Convertible1949–1980331,847
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupé1955–1974362,601
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible1957–197480,881
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type341961–196942,505
Volkswagen Golf Mk1 Convertible1979–1993388,522
Volkswagen Corrado1988–199597,521
Volkswagen Golf Mk3 Convertible1993–1997129,475
Volkswagen Golf Mk3 Variant1997–199980,928
Volkswagen Golf Mk4 Convertible1997–200182,588base Golf Mk3
Volkswagen Scirocco I1974–1981504,153
Volkswagen Scirocco II1981–1992291,497

Coachbuilt Motorhomes

The first Karmann motorhomes (called coachbuilts to use their proper and correct name) were launched in 1974 based on the Volkswagen Type 2 'Bay Window' chassis. The bodies were of a sandwich structure. These motorhomes had two beds, kitchen, shower, waste water tank, rear body supports, leisure battery, toilet, hot water heater and gas heating. Optional extra's included the luggage rack over the driver's cab. Approximately 1,000 units were produced through 1979.

With the introduction of the Volkswagen T2/3 - also known as the (T3/Vanagon/Transporter/T25) in 1979, the motorhomes received a permanent overhead area with a bed for two people. Called Karmann Gipsy, 741 were made between 1980 and 1992. This number excludes 30 or more Type 3 Syncro models made between 1986 and 1989, and 7 Syncro 16" models made between 1991 and 1992. In addition 113 Cheetah T2/3's were manufactured between 1986 and 1990 to make a total 891 Volkswagen T3 Karmann Coachbuilt Motorhomes - all produced in Karmann Rheine factory and not at Osnabruck as commonly believed.

From 1978 to 1996, a total of 3,103 Volkswagen LT based models were produced. These included the LT "M", LT "L 1", LT "L 2", LT "L Distance Wide", LT "L Distance-Wide Gold", LT "H Distance-Wide", LT "H Distance-Wide Gold", LT "S Distance-Wide" and the top-of-the-line LT "Distance-Wide Autovilla".

In 1996, the motorhome design was updated and based on the Volkswagen T4, named Colorado and Missouri. The Volkswagen Transporter (T5) based versions were introduced in 2003.

[5]

Production of car modules

Bankruptcy

Falling demand drove the Karmann company, along with other financially connected businesses, to file for protective insolvency on 8 April 2009. Insolvency practitioner Ottmar Hermann followed some of the approach seen with the earlier insolvency of Woolworths' German business, and the Karmann business is emerging with little independence, but supported by significant cash investment from long-standing customer Volkswagen.[6][7]

On 8 April 2009, Karmann filed for bankruptcy protection due to the sharp decline in demand for cars, and the company's financial obligations.[8] Volkswagen revealed on October 24, 2009, that it had made an offer to acquire long-time partner Karmann.[9] On November 20, 2009 Volkswagen said that it would buy Karmann's site at Osnabrück, to produce a new vehicle. On 4 November 2010 Valmet Automotive signed an agreement to buy Karmann's roof-component sections in Osnabrück, Germany, and Zary, Poland.[10] Karmann's North American operations were sold August 2010 to Webasto Group.

Resumption of car production with a new version of the Volkswagen Golf cabriolet is scheduled for March 2011.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fisher, Lawrence M. (31 October 1998). "Wilhelm Karmann Jr., 83; Ran German Car Body Maker". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  2. ↑ Mitchell, Larry G. (2000). AMC Muscle Cars. MotorBooks/MBI. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0-7603-0761-8. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  3. ↑ Mederle, Wolfgang A. (18 April 2010). "American Motors - 'Der Karmann Javelin'". American-Motors.de. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  4. ↑ "1961 to 1970". Karmann Company History. Karmann.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  5. ↑ The Karmann Coachbuilt Club
  6. ↑ "Karmann meldet Insolvenz an" (in German). Handelsblatt.com. 8 April 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 , Osnabrücker Zeitung January 2010 (local newspaper report in German)
  8. ↑ AP (8 April 2009). "Germany's Karmann Files Bankruptcy". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2009 
  9. ↑ "Spiegel Reports (24 October 2009). "Volkswagen May Take Over Carmaker Karmann". Bloomberg. 
  10. ↑ "Pontos and Finnish Industry Investment to develop Valmet Automotive with Metso; First step is the acquisition of Karmann´s convertible roof business". wallstreet-online.de. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-06. 

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