Borgward
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Defunct | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Bremen, Germany |
| Key people | Carl F. W. Borgward, founder |
| Products | Automobiles |
Contents |
Origins of the component companies
The origins of Bremen's most significant auto-business go back to 1905 with the establishment in nearby Varel of the "Hansa Automobilgesellschaft" and the foundation in Bremen itself of "Namag", maker of the Lloyd car. These two businesses merged in 1914 to form the "Hansa-Lloyd-Werke A.G.". After the war, in the troubled economic situation then confronting Germany, the business failed to prosper and by the late 1920s faced bankruptcy. For Carl Borgward, already the successful creator of the Goliath-Blitzkarren business, the misfortunes of Hansa-Lloyd presented an opportunity greatly to expand the scope of his auto business, and he took control of it.[1]Carl Borgward's first "car", the Blitzkarren
The first "automobile" Carl Borgward himself designed had been the 1924 Blitzkarren (lightning cart), a sort of tiny three-wheeled van with 2 hp (1.5 kW), which was an enormous success in the market gap it filled. Traders with a small budget bought it for delivery. The Reichspost ordered many of them for postal service.Hansa Lloyd
In 1929, Borgward became the director of Hansa Lloyd AG having been able to merge his "Goliath-Werke Borgward & Co." with "Hansa-Lloyd. The small Goliath-Blitzkarren had by now evolved into the still three wheeler timber framed symthetic leather bodied 5 or 7 hp Goliath Pioneer.[2] Borgward turned his attention to the other businesses and led the development of the Hansa Konsul. In February 1937, there came the new Hansa Borgward 2000 and in 1939 the name was shortened to Borgward 2000. The 2000 model was followed by the Borgward 2300 that remained in production until 1942. After World War II, the company presented the Borgward Hansa 1500. One of the top engineers at Borgward from 1938-1952 was Dipl. Ing. Hubert M. Meingast.Isabella and P100
Production of the Borgward Isabella began in 1954. The Isabella would become Borgward's most popular model and remained in production for the life of the company. In 1959, the Borgward P100 was introduced, equipped with pneumatic suspension.Sports racers
Borgward introduced a line of 1500 cc sports racers in the late 1950s, with the 16-valve engine from these becoming a successful Formula Two power unit (which was also used by some F1 privateers in 1961).Financial problems
Although Borgward pioneered technical novelties in the German market such as air suspension and automatic transmission, the company had trouble competing in the marketplace. While larger companies like Opel and VW took advantage of economies of scale and kept their prices low to gain market share, Borgward's cost structure was even higher than necessary for its size, as it basically operated as four tiny independent companies and never implemented such basic cost reduction strategies as joint development and parts sharing between the company's makes. Borgward suffered quality problems as well. The Lloyd Arabella was technically advanced as a water-cooled boxer with front wheel drive, but plagued with problems such as water leakage and gearbox glitches. Lloyd lost money on the car even though it was more expensive than its direct competitors.Liquidation
In 1961, the company was forced into liquidation by creditors though Carl Borgward insisted the company was solvent which proved to be true as creditors were paid in full.[3] In 1963, all manufacturing equipment for the Borgward Isabella and P100 was sold to a buyer in Mexico. Carl Borgward died in July 1963, two years after the company went bankrupt.The German magazine Der Spiegel reported in 1965 that with a little help, the Borgward company could have easily overcome its financial problems of 1961. Given that all the company's creditors were eventually paid in full, the liquidation may have been unnecessary.[4]
Production in Mexico
Production in Mexico was delayed, but was started in August 1967[5] by entrepreneur Gregorio Ramirez Gonzalez. Production in Mexico ceased in 1970.[6]Models
Cars
- Borgward 2000
- Borgward 2300
- Borgward Hansa 1500
- Borgward Hansa 1800
- Borgward Hansa 1800 D
- Borgward Hansa 2400
- Borgward Isabella
- Borgward P100
- Borgward 230
Trucks
- Borgward B 611
- Borgward B 622
- Borgward B 655
- Borgward B 1000
- Borgward B 1000Z
- Borgward B 1250
- Borgward B 1500
- Borgward B 1500F
- Borgward B 2000
- Borgward B 2500
- Borgward B 3000
- Borgward B 4000
- Borgward B 4500
- Borgward B 522
- Borgward B 533
- Borgward B 544
- Borgward B 555
- SdKfz 301 Borgward B IV
- SdKfz 302/303a/303b Goliath tracked mine
Revival of Borgward
On May 21, 2008, the grandson of Carl F. W. Borgward, Christian Borgward, together with his partner Karlheinz L. Knöss, founded Borgward AG in Lucerne (Switzerland).[7] In 2005[dubious ] Borgward (President) and Knöss (CEO and Vice President of the Supervisory board) started the revival of Borgward. They started the development of the new Borgward automobiles with the Norwegian stylist Einar J. Hareide, creator of the "Four-Eyes-Face" of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, set up the organisation and engineer team and developed a car concept.Christian Borgward owns the brand Borgward. Borgward AG is responsible for the development, production, sales and marketing of Borgward cars, ships and aircraft.[8]
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