Borgward: Difference between revisions

Borgward
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1929
Defunct	1961
Fate	Bankruptcy
Headquarters	Bremen, Germany
Key people	Carl F. W. Borgward, founder
Products	Automobiles

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Revision as of 23:01, 12 October 2011

Borgward was a German automobile manufacturer founded by Carl F. W. Borgward (November 10, 1890-July 28, 1963). The company was based in Bremen. The Borgward group eventually produced four brands of cars: Borgward, Hansa, Goliath and Lloyd.

Blitzkarren

The first "automobile" Carl Borgward designed was the 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 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 even 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^[1]. 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.^[2]

Production in Mexico

The start of production in Mexico was delayed, but was eventually started in August 1967^[3] by the entrepreneur Gregorio Ramirez Gonzalez. Production in Mexico ceased in 1970.^[4]

Models

Cars

Trucks

Revival of Borgward

On May 21, 2008, the Grandson of Carl F. W. Borgward, Christian Borgward, together with his partner Karlheinz L. Knöss founded the Borgward AG in Lucerne (Switzerland). The publication of the foundation was reported in the Commercial Register of Lucerne on June 25, 2008. In 2005 Christian Borgward (President of the Borgward AG) together with Karlheinz L. 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 legendary "Four-Eyes-Face" of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, set up the organisation and engineer team and developed a unique, independent car concept. Christian Borgward is owner of the Borgward brand rights. Borgward AG is responsible for the development, production, sales and marketing of Borgward cars, ships and aircrafts.;^[5]^[6]

References

^ Borgward History
^ History of Borgward
^ "News and views: Borgward in Mexico". Autocar. 127 (nbr 3732): page 52. date 24 August 1967. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Brief Borgward History". Borgwardisabella.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
^ http://www.borgward-automotive.com
^ "Handelsregister des Kantons Luzern". Hralu.ch. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2010-06-12.

External links

[1] Borgward History

[2] History of Borgward

[Autocar196708-3] "News and views: Borgward in Mexico". Autocar. 127 (nbr 3732): page 52. date 24 August 1967. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)

[4] "Brief Borgward History". Borgwardisabella.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.

[5] ttp://www.borgward-automotive.com

[6] "Handelsregister des Kantons Luzern". Hralu.ch. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2010-06-12.

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 *[[Borgward B 544]]
 *[[Borgward B 555]]
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+*SdKfz 301 [[Borgward B IV]]
 ==Revival of Borgward==