Recaro Saved from Bankruptcy by Italian Investors
Recaro’s future looked grim at best after the German brand best known for its seats filed for bankruptcy in July 2024. The company has seemingly been saved: It announced that an investment firm called Proma Group will take over its business and enable it to relaunch its operations across Europe in January 2025.
Italy-based Proma Group explained that it will keep “several employees” in Recaro Automotive’s sales and technology departments, which are both headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, to make the transition as seamless as possible. Seat production will soon shift from Germany to an undisclosed location in Italy, however. For context, Recaro employed about 215 workers across Germany before it filed for bankruptcy.
Starting in January 2025, Recaro will resume selling its line of aftermarket seats. The unnamed facility in Italy will begin manufacturing seats for OEMs, including Porsche, at about the same time. The bankruptcy sent a ripple effect across the industry: Ineos reportedly had to stop production of the Grenadier and the Quartermaster off-roaders earlier in 2024 because both models come standard with Recaro seats.
Recaro Automotive stresses that its operations in North America and Japan are not affected by the bankruptcy or by the change in ownership. Recaro Holding, whose job is to design and manufacture airplane seats and gaming chairs, among other products, is also not involved in the bankruptcy process.
The real question is how is BBS. They were in the same boat. They make the greatest wheels but never made money selling them.
Good to see thy are still alive I was also wondering what is going with BBS who is in a similar position where the US and Japanese divisions are ok as far as I know.
Great news! Glad to hear that the vaunted manufacturer will remain on the scene. They’ve always made reasonably priced, well designed automotive seating.
Reasonably priced? Come on!
They are premium priced
But I agree they are great fitting/comfortable seats
As an engineer for Freightliner, I worked with Recaro engineers to design a high-end, suspension truck seat specific to Our truck brand. I took a trip to Germany, and toured their design and test facilities in both Stuttgart and the Black Forest. Very impressive facilities and people. I’m glad to hear they will continue on.
I still have a pair of Recaro’s from the 80’s in my attic. They were a key upgrade for 1970’s sports cars to hold you in place while driving the twisties. I’ve installed them in newer cars, but the improvement isn’t as dramatic. The Recaro’s have held up very nicely. Quality stuff will do that! I keep thinking I will buy another 70’s sports car and install the seats, but I gag at the current pricing of 2002’s and 240Z’s, much less a 1973 911E like the one that I owned for a dozen years.