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Cheerful view in the crisis: insolvency proceedings opened for Leipzig tram manufacturer!
Insolvency proceedings opened for Leipzig tram manufacturer Heiterblick – restructuring plans and measures for 250 employees.
Cheerful view in the crisis: insolvency proceedings opened for Leipzig tram manufacturer!
On July 3, 2025, insolvency proceedings for the Leipzig tram manufacturer Heiterblick were officially opened. The Leipzig District Court has approved the company's application for self-administration insolvency proceedings, which means that managing directors and restructuring experts can now work together on a restructuring plan. According to a company spokesman informed MDR Saxony about the current status of the situation. The search for cost savings is already in full swing and there are already initial discussions with potential investors.
Heiterblick GmbH has around 250 employees who will now be supported by the Federal Employment Agency during temporary short-time work. The agency covers the employees’ wages and salaries for three months. The problems that led to insolvency are complex: the aftermath of the Corona crisis, market distortions as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine and delays in project execution due to disrupted supply chains are leading to a tense situation in the company. Reported in this regard Urban Transport Magazine that the availability of raw materials is severely limited and the prices for metals in particular have risen sharply.
Background and market conditions
Heiterblick was founded 100 years ago and originally operated as the main workshop of the transport company in the HeiterBlick district of Leipzig. The company has been a 100 percent subsidiary of Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH since 2004. In 2007 it was named HeiterBlick. The company has in the past delivered trams to various cities in Germany, such as Halberstadt, Hanover and Bielefeld.
The company's current order and delivery backlog is remarkable. Current projects include:
| Location | Vehicles |
|---|---|
| Dortmund | 24 + 2 from option in delivery, 8 more as new orders |
| Würzburg | 18 in delivery + option 9 |
| Görlitz (consortium with Kiepe – LEIWAG) | 8 + 1 hydrogen tram at Hörmann |
| Zwickau | 6 + options 12 |
| Leipzig | 25 + options 112 NGT12+ (XXL) + 18 NGT (L) |
Heiterblick carries out the insolvency proceedings on its own initiative. In order to advance the restructuring and ensure the long-term viability of the company, important stakeholders have already pledged their support. This means that business operations will continue to run unchanged throughout the entire restructuring process. The successful completion of this measure could be crucial for Heiterblick.