Germany: The Leipzig-based company has applied to the district court for external administration. Although HeiterBlick was founded in 2004, it has its origins in a tram workshop opened in 1926. For three months, the company’s 250 employees will be paid by the Federal Employment Agency.
Despite the bankruptcy proceedings, the company intends to continue deliveries until 2026. It backlog of orders includes 40 Saxon trams for Leipzig, Gerlitz and Zwickau, 34 Vamos trams for Dortmund and 18 GT-F trams for Würzburg. HeiterBlick is also involved in a hydrogen tram project.
According to the company, its inability to secure sufficient liquidity is a result of to supply chains disruptions and component cost increases due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. HeiterBlick is not the only German company affected by the economic instability in the country. The current situation has already led to the bankruptcy of the locomotive builder Schöma and bogie producer Transtec F&E Vetschau.
