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- Application for provisional insolvency proceedings filed
- Attorney Sarah Wolf from Anchor Rechtsanwälte appointed as provisional insolvency administrator
- Business operations continue without restrictions
Wesel/Duisburg, January 31, 2025. The Lackermann car dealership from Wesel has fallen into an economic crisis and needs to be renovated. For this reason, the company has filed an application for provisional insolvency proceedings at the Duisburg Local Court. The court granted this application and appointed attorney Sarah Wolf from Anchor Rechtsanwälte as provisional insolvency administrator. Together with her team, she gained an overview of the situation immediately after the appointment and has already held discussions with the employees, the management as well as important parties involved in the proceedings and business partners. Operations will continue without restrictions at the three locations in Wesel, Bocholt and Brünen.
Founded in the 1930s
The Lackermann car dealership operates a car dealership with the brands Ford, Hyundai, Corvette, Saab, Cadillac and Chevrolet. In addition, a comprehensive workshop service is offered to customers at all three locations. In total, the Lackermann car dealership employs around 100 people – 18 of whom are trainees. The family business has its roots in a car repair shop in Wesel, which was founded by Hermann Lackermann in the 1930s. Immediately after the war, he also began selling new DKW cars. In 1962 he became an authorized dealer for Opel. In 1980, the founder handed over the business to his three sons Hermann, Manfred and Wolfgang Lackermann. The company is now run by the third generation of Maik, Andre, Sven and Jörg Lackermann.
Consumer reluctance to buy
The cause of the crisis is a strong reluctance on the part of consumers to buy. This was triggered by the current uncertain economic situation in Germany, so purchase decisions for a new car were postponed for the time being. Another trigger for the decline in sales was the termination of the contract by Opel in 2023 and the elimination of the bonus for the sale of electric vehicles. New car sales account for around 45% of sales. Despite the cost-cutting measures introduced, the Lackermann car dealership recorded a significant loss in 2024. The trigger for the insolvency application was finally a failed negotiation about another corporate loan.
The search for investors has already begun
The salaries of the employees are secured by the insolvency payment of the Employment Agency until March. Negotiations are ongoing with the business partners to ensure the continuation of business operations and to jointly seek restructuring solutions. “We held many discussions immediately after the appointment by the court and were thus able to ensure that all three locations can continue to offer their services without restrictions. In the coming weeks, it will be a matter of working out further restructuring measures and initiating the search for a buyer. In the context of the current difficult situation in the German automotive industry, this is not an easy task, but I am optimistic,” explains the provisional insolvency administrator Sarah Wolf from Anchor Rechtsanwälte. Customers should direct questions about warranties and down payments directly to the respective company where the vehicles were purchased. Here, the inquiries are collected and then answered promptly after an appropriate clarification of the individual case.