In more alarming bankruptcy news, BBS Wheels has also bitten the dust for the 5th time
BBS Wheels shares the same fate as Recaro: like the latter, it has just filed for bankruptcy. But this is not the first time that it’s done so. That notwithstanding, this makes for the second, famous aftermarket automotive brand to have been caught in a deep financial hole, so much so that they have declared it so with the courts. What’s next for them, then?
BBS files for bankruptcy for the 5th time since 2017
Photo: BBS
This latest insolvency spell began when employees weren’t paid their wages for May and June this year. The proceedings have been filed this time at the Rottweil Local Court. However, the wheelmaker’s problems first began – and got really bad – in 2007. It has since gone through 4 previous filings since that year, and again in 2010, 2020, and 2023.
ISH Management Services, the current owner of BBS Automotive GmbH, released a statement saying “We will never let down the people who have walked this path with us. We will never give up on the BBS brand, which for us is one of the biggest German global brands. We have a plan and we are determined to implement it.”
Photo: BBS
The brand saw its rise to prominence in the ’80s and ’90s with many of its designs becoming staples on performance cars, even to this day. Brands including Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and the upper echelon AMG and Bentley have used their wheels for a good time. To date, it is also the only wheel supplier for Formula One.
Obviously, the past 4 bankruptcies were hurdled successfully, in a manner of speaking. This 5th episode, though, comes too close to its latest drought which was only in September last year. Whether they can bounce back or not remains to be seen.
Photo: BBS
Not to be mistaken as the “same”, BBS Japan is safe and well as there exists no equity between them and their counterparts from Germany. The former manufactures forged wheels whereas the latter uses casting as its preferred method of manufacturing. The Japanese side does not carry any of the wheels made in Germany.
Much like the filing of bankruptcy by Recaro, BBS has also named copies and counterfeits as among the many reasons that have greatly reduced their sales and profits. With knock-offs priced cheaper than the originals, many would take that route if only to get their wheel fix, even at the expense of durability and safety.
We can only hope that they do get past this current predicament, and if they do, we also hope that valuable lessons are learned. Five times biting the dust isn’t exactly a good thing for any business in any industry.
