Tempest 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Karmann, the beloved German coachbuilders, who all our beloved Rados came from, is in financial difficulties. Karmann wants to make 350 of its employees redundant (it was even planned to make 800 redundant!). 100 are to flow into a special retirement package, the remaining 250 will have to leave (predominantly employees that have been taken on more recently). In addition Karmann is looking at reducing the workweek from 35 to 27.5 hours with an average salary cut of 21% for the factory workers and 10% for administrative and other staff. This is to commence July 1st and tie Karmann over till approx. July 2006. The reasons are decreasing sales of their current models, the Merc CLK Cabrio, the Chrysler Crossfire and the Audi A4 Cabrio, strong Euro (given the main market for Karmann for the above cars is the US). Through the avove measures Karmann is obtaining a 15 month buffer period, after which they're hoping to get new car models in again, and can then ramp up production again following a retooling phase. Only the Osnabrück factory is affected so far by these measures. Thought you guys and gals might like to know, also in the light of a Karmann visit beginning of September (see events thread). Tempest Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60Jet 1 Posted March 17, 2005 I'll buy the Corrado cabrio from them to help out Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
K-rado 0 Posted March 18, 2005 Make that 2 G60Jet :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted March 18, 2005 Ok you guys can squabble over that.. i'll have the last Storm off them! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biggrim 0 Posted March 18, 2005 Can we not all chip in and buy the equipment they use to press the rado body parts etc? We'd all save money in the long run i reckon. Seriously tho, not good news for the staff and their families. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henny 0 Posted March 18, 2005 jimsG60, that's at VW's HQ, not Karmann's... :roll: :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted March 18, 2005 Strange.. I was sure the last Storm was at Karmann... ho hum! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dinkus 10 Posted March 18, 2005 It is sad news, but then maybe if they stopped making cars that you wouldn't want to be seen in the vicinity of, let along in, then it might all work itself out. Heck, bring back the 'rado. Brand new Corrado anyone? They could spruce it up a bit and replace the crappy breaky bits with proven ones and re-do the interior. And sell them with R32 lumps.... Well, I can but fantasise... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted March 18, 2005 The Corrado was probably one of the cars that helped in their demise.. heh.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dinkus 10 Posted March 18, 2005 :lol: Well yeah, they didn't exactly make a profit on them, but at least they were nice, even cool cars. Nobody is going to say the Crossfire is a cool car. Ever. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted March 18, 2005 No.. the Crossfire is pretty darn ghastly and shockingly expensive. Doesn't seem to carry off the electronic spoiler thing as well as the Corrado either.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempest 0 Posted March 18, 2005 Makes me smile, us fantasising about Karmann taking up production of the Rado (and I'd give a limb for them to start up production of a rust-proof Mk1 Rocco :-) ), whereas in the real world it's all about money-making, survival amongst cheaper (not necessarily better) competitors and where your customers are (Europe going down in favour of rising China ). In the harsh real world there is no room for friendly emotions just cold money-making, often simply survival, tactics, backstabbing etc. It's a shock to realise that Karmann didn't even get the contract for the Mk5 Golf Cabrio!!! That went to another Osnabrück-based company who thanks to outsourcing to cheap-labour countries were a little bit cheaper than Karmann :-( Tempest Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godskitchen 0 Posted March 18, 2005 The whole of Germany is in a bad state job wise! 5m out of work! was watching BBC NEWS 24 last night and they were in a town that had a population of 70k 2 years ago.........................20k now!!!!!!!!! People moving to find jobs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CazzaVR 0 Posted March 18, 2005 No.. the Crossfire is pretty darn ghastly and shockingly expensive. Doesn't seem to carry off the electronic spoiler thing as well as the Corrado either.. Couldn't agree more! Love that Clarkson quote: "...looks like a dog taking a crap," :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
