Karmann likely will close down its contract assembly business in autumn 2009 when the last Mercedes CLK has been built.

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Management announced yesterday that it has failed to win any new business in this area and that a further 1,000 of a total of 7,000 worldwide are now under threat. Karmann announced last year that 1,770 jobs would go.


It will now focus on other business areas such as cabriolet roof systems, although it is still keen to win new contract assembly, reported Automobilwoche.


Karmann’s roof assembly business turned over EUR300m in 2007 and delivered 175,000 units. That figure is expected to double in the next five years. The technical development business has a turnover of around EUR100m a year. The company turned over a total EUR1.5bn in 2007.

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