Insolvent car lock specialist Kiekert seeks a new owner

Insolvency Several Interested Parties for Insolvent Automotive Supplier Kiekert

2025-12-03 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

The insolvent car lock specialist Kiekert is seeking a new owner. According to insolvency administrator Joachim Exner, several investors have already expressed interest in a takeover.

Kiekert manufactures locking systems for vehicles.(Image: Kiekert) — Kiekert manufactures locking systems for vehicles.
(Image: Kiekert)

"The high investor interest offers Kiekert a good perspective for the future." Further details about potential buyers or the expected duration of the sales process were not disclosed.

The automakers and clients are supporting Kiekert's restructuring, according to Exner, and wish to continue the collaboration. Since the insolvency filing, the company has not lost a single order. Kiekert has "good chances for a fresh start."

Business Operations Continue

The insolvency proceedings for Kiekert AG were initiated by the Wuppertal District Court on December 1. The company filed for insolvency in September. Since then, business operations have continued as usual. Orders are being produced and delivered on time, it was stated.

The previous shareholder, the Chinese auto supplier Lingyun, has stated that it no longer intends to withdraw the insolvency application and therefore no longer has any decision-making authority, said Hakan Civelek, managing director of IG Metall Velbert.

Lingyun was not available for comment. As recently as October, the company had reaffirmed its intention to remain the owner of Kiekert.

Kiekert Locks Are Found in Luxury Cars Worldwide

Nearly 700 employees in Heiligenhaus, Germany, district are affected by the insolvency. According to IG Metall, nearly 300 of them work in production. More than 200 are employed in the development department. The rest work in areas such as sales or data processing.

Kiekert is able to pay the wages and salaries of its employees from its own funds, said Exner. Until the end of November, they had been secured through insolvency compensation.

According to the insolvency administrator, Kiekert is a global market leader for automotive locking systems. The company is considered the inventor of the modern central locking system. Kiekert locks can be found in cars by Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Rolls-Royce, among others.

The corporate group employs 4,500 people. The foreign subsidiaries of Kiekert AG in Europe, Asia, and North America are not affected by the insolvency proceedings.

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