Roof and heating systems supplier Webasto has agreed a takeover of Karmann’s convertible roof business in the USA and Mexico.
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Contracts were signed earlier this month although both parties agreed to maintain silence about the sales price.
The acquisition is restricted purely to the American market: the two companies in the Webasto Group, Webasto-Edscha Cabrio USA and Webasto-Edscha Cabrio Mexico, have taken over the USA business of Karmann and the manufacturing plant of Karmann Ghia de Mexico, respectively. Turnover at Karmann’s North American business is around US$40m and it employs about 150 people.
Webasto chairman Franz-Josef Kortum said the move consolidates the company’s position as the market leader for convertible roof systems.
The convertible roof business in the USA and the manufacturing plant in Mexico will be integrated into the existing convertible roof business of the Webasto Group which was realigned last year under the name Webasto-Edscha Cabrio following the takeover of Edscha’s convertible roof business.
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By GlobalDataErik Roeren, former president and CEO of Karmann USA, will keep his position. In addition, Axel Schulmeyer, chairman of the management board at Webasto-Edscha Cabrio, will also join the management of the new Webasto-Edscha Cabrio USA. The Karmann employees in Plymouth and Puebla are to be taken over.
The Webasto Group has been represented in the USA since 1974; roof and heating systems have been developed, produced and sold at five sites in the USA.
