Business · Companies · 1 day ago
WKW auto supplier sold, with about 450 jobs set to go
WKW’s German businesses and three overseas subsidiaries have been sold to a strategic investor after the auto supplier became insolvent.
The new owner is WKW Automotive Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of Rea Automotive GmbH.
Production at three German sites will continue, with 1,050 jobs taken over in Wuppertal, Velbert and Sprockhövel, alongside sites in the United States, France and Tunisia.
About 450 workers will lose their jobs and will not be taken on by the buyer.
WKW makes decorative and functional vehicle parts and roof-rail systems, and its German businesses filed for insolvency about two years ago amid weak conditions in the auto industry.
Workers accepted concessions and income losses to help secure the deal, according to the IG Metall union.
In return, the union negotiated a four-year guarantee for sites and employment.
The insolvent WKW Group’s German businesses and three foreign subsidiaries have been sold to an investor.
The new owner, WKW Automotive Deutschland GmbH, has taken over production at three German sites with 1,050 jobs and plans to continue it.
About 450 workers will not be taken on and are set to lose their jobs.
The sale was approved by the creditors’ committee, and the transfer has already taken place.
IG Metall said workers who remain accepted concessions and income losses, and secured a four-year guarantee for jobs and locations.
- Who
- WKW Automotive Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of Rea Automotive GmbH, bought the businesses.
- What
- The insolvent WKW Group’s German businesses and three foreign subsidiaries were sold. About 450 workers will not be taken on.
- When
- The transfer had already taken place by 7 November 2026.
- Where
- Production sites in Wuppertal, Velbert and Sprockhövel, as well as locations in the United States, France and Tunisia.
- Why
- The sale followed WKW’s insolvency. The company cited weak conditions in the automotive industry when it filed for insolvency.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The German companies of the WKW Group filed for insolvency, citing weak conditions in the automotive industry.
The sale was reported, and the insolvency administrator said the transfer had already taken place.
- Jobs taken over at German sites
- 1,050
- Workers not taken on
- About 450
- German production sites
- Wuppertal, Velbert and Sprockhövel
- Foreign locations
- United States, France and Tunisia
- Guarantee secured
- Four years for jobs and locations
What people are saying
A stroke of luck for WKW and the German WKW sites
concessions and income losses
In return for this hard contribution from the employees, however, we were able to secure substantial benefits